The Trades Union Congress (TUC) in the UK has condemned the Nigerian government for the arrest of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero. Ajaero was detained at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport while on his way to attend the TUC conference in the UK. Though he was released later that night, concerns about his ongoing harassment remain.
In a video obtained by Vanguard, the UK TUC described Ajaero’s detention as a serious violation of trade union rights. Speaking at the conference Ajaero was scheduled to address, a UK TUC leader stated, “Joe’s arrest was unlawful and shows a blatant disregard for trade union freedoms.”
The UK TUC reiterated its support for Nigerian trade unions, urging the Nigerian government to stop targeting Ajaero. His arrest reportedly caused him to miss an International Trade Union Congress meeting, and some believe it may be linked to his refusal to respond to a police summons or a complaint from an airline operator. So far, Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has remained silent on the issue.
