During an emergency closed-door meeting convened after the arrest of its national president, Joe Ajaero, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) reached several critical decisions.
Ajaero was apprehended by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja as he prepared to travel to the UK for an official assignment.
In response to the arrest, the NLC’s National Administrative Council (NAC) held an urgent meeting to discuss the situation and determine a course of action.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the NLC strongly condemned Ajaero’s arrest and detention, demanding his immediate and unconditional release by midnight. The union described the arrest as an attack on all Nigerian workers.
In a communiqué issued after the meeting, signed by NLC Deputy President Adeyanju Adewale, the union also placed all its affiliates, state councils, and the Nigerian public on high alert.
The NLC accused the government of using the arrest as a tactic to delay the implementation of the new minimum wage and called for an immediate rollback of the petrol price to ₦617 per litre.
To further mobilize, the NLC scheduled an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council (NEC) for 9:00 AM on September 10, 2024, to discuss the situation and plan additional actions.
The NLC also warned the government against targeting dissenting voices, reaffirming its commitment to defending the rights of workers and the freedom of all Nigerians.
The resolutions from the NLC’s emergency meeting are as follows:
The NLC demands the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero before midnight.
The NLC calls for the immediate reversal of the petrol price hike to ₦617 per litre.
The NLC places all affiliates, state councils, civil society allies, and the Nigerian public on red alert.
The NLC summons an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) for 9:00 AM on September 10, 2024.