The Federal Government has yielded to pressure following the release of Comrade Joe Ajaero, the President of the National Labour Congress (NLC), from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). Ajaero’s release came after mounting pleas, threats, and protests from the NLC, who condemned his detention as unjust and vowed to take further action if he was not freed.
Comrade Ajaero was detained by the DSS on September 9, 2024, while on his way to an official engagement. His detention came amid heightened tensions between the government and the NLC over the rising cost of electricity tariffs and the demand for the implementation of a new minimum wage. The arrest sparked immediate outrage within the NLC, which accused the government of attempting to silence labour leaders advocating for workers’ rights.
In response to Ajaero’s detention, the NLC issued an ultimatum, threatening to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike if their president was not released and their demands for fair wages and tariff reductions were not addressed. Over the past few days, the NLC had been vocal in its calls for Ajaero’s immediate release, with labour unions across the country mobilizing in solidarity.
Following his release, the NLC took to social media to confirm the development, celebrating the return of their leader while reaffirming their commitment to their demands. “Our president has been released, but we will not back down on our demands for better wages and fair treatment for Nigerian workers,” the NLC posted.
Despite the release of Comrade Ajaero, the labour congress has made it clear that they will continue to fight for the reduction of electricity tariffs and the full implementation of the new minimum wage, signalling that further confrontations with the government may be on the horizon. The threat of an indefinite strike remains if the government’s response to the workers’ demands proves unsatisfactory.
The release marks a significant victory for the NLC, but tensions between the labour union and the government are likely to persist as both sides remain at odds over critical economic issues affecting millions of Nigerians.
