The presidency has responded to concerns raised by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the United Kingdom regarding the recent arrest of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga addressed the issue in a statement on Tuesday, asserting that Ajaero is not above the law in Nigeria.
Onanuga refuted allegations that the government violated Ajaero’s rights. He explained that Ajaero’s arrest by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) was due to his failure to honor an invitation from law enforcement authorities investigating a matter.
Ajaero was arrested at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja on Monday while preparing to board a flight to the UK.
According to NLC spokesperson Benson Upah, Ajaero was traveling to the UK at the invitation of the TUC to represent Nigerian workers at an important international labor conference.
The NLC condemned the arrest, which they claimed disrupted Ajaero’s ability to participate in the conference and called for his immediate release. The union warned its affiliates and members to stay vigilant and demanded Ajaero’s unconditional release before midnight, which was granted later that night.
Ajaero’s arrest was linked to his alleged failure to respond to a police invitation related to a petition from Air Peace Airlines. However, Omotade Makinwa, spokesperson for Air Peace, noted that the police action came a year after the petition was withdrawn.
A video has surfaced showing a leader of the UK TUC condemning the Nigerian government’s actions during the TUC 2024 congress in the UK, which has further drawn international attention to the issue.
