The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has been released by the Department of State Security (DSS).

Ajaero was granted administrative bail at 11:25p.m. on Monday, a few minutes to the midnight ultimatum issued by the NLC.

A lawyer from Femi Falana chamber, Marshal Abubakar, was said to have perfected the bail on Monday night.

The NLC president was arrested on Monday, September 9, 2024 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport while on his way to the United Kingdom on the invitation of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain.

At the end of an emergency meeting of the National Administrative Council (NAC) of the Congress on Monday in Abuja, the NLC had given ultimatum for the release of its leader.

Deputy President of NLC, Mr Adeyanju Adewale, in a communique, said that the detention of Ajaero was an attack not just on the NLC leadership but on the rights of all workers and citizens to organise, protest and express themselves freely.

NLC demands immediate release of its President, Joe Ajaero

“NLC notes with grave concern that Comrade Ajaero was lawfully discharging his duties to represent Nigerian workers and had not committed any offense warranting such action.

“The NLC demands the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero before 12 midnight today.

“The Council reiterates that Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive or a criminal, and his detention is an act of intimidation aimed at silencing dissent and stifling the labor movement’s voice in Nigeria.

“The Congress therefore places all its affiliates, State Councils, Civil society allies, and the Nigerian populace on red alert,” NAC stated.

The Star