The National Administrative Council (NAC) of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a Monday, September 9, 2024, midnight ultimatum to the federal government to address the alarming and unlawful arrest and detention of NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero.
The ultimatum is contained in a statement issued at the end of the NAC emergency meeting on Monday signed by its Deputy President Prince Adeyanju Adewale.
It threatened a nationwide strike amongst others as a response to Ajaero’s arrest.
Earlier THE WHISTLER reported that Ajaero was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday when he was about to board a flight to the United Kingdom, for an official assignment.
Reacting, Adewake said the council unequivocally condemns the brazen and illegal detention of Ajaero by the Nigerian State without any legal warrant or justification.
He said, “The NLC notes with grave concern that Comrade Ajaero was lawfully discharging his duties to represent Nigerian workers and had not committed any offence warranting such action and his detention is an affront to the rights of workers and the democratic principles of freedom of movement and expression.
“The NLC demands the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero before midnight today
“The Congress places all its affiliates, State Councils, Civil society allies, and the Nigerian populace on red alert.
“The detention of Comrade Ajaero is an attack not just on the NLC leadership but on the rights of all workers and citizens to organize, protest, and express themselves freely.
“The NLC will not stand by while these rights are trampled upon. This provocation is another attempt by the State to scuttle the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage”.
The Congress noted that it will not relent in its efforts to oppose all forms of oppression, while disclosing that “NAC – in – session has summoned an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council by 9:00 AM, September 10, 2024, to take action against the current forces of retrogression.”