On Monday morning, the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Ajaero was en route to the United Kingdom to attend a Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference when he was detained.
The NLC confirmed the arrest on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, condemning it as an attack on Nigerian labor workers. Ajaero is being held at the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), according to reports. The union views the arrest as part of ongoing intimidation against the labor movement.
This incident follows accusations against Ajaero of treason, cybercrime, terrorism financing, and subversion. The police linked Ajaero to Andrew Wynne, a Briton accused of funding protests allegedly aimed at destabilizing the Nigerian government. Ajaero was previously questioned on August 29, and both he and the NLC General Secretary were summoned to appear again on September 5 for further questioning related to criminal intimidation, public unrest, and property damage.
Despite these legal challenges, the NLC continues its advocacy for workers’ rights amid escalating tensions with the Nigerian government.
