The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. The arrest occurred on Monday as Ajaero was about to board a flight to the United Kingdom for an official assignment.
According to Benson Upah, NLC’s Head of Information, Ajaero was scheduled to attend the Trade Union Congress (TUC) conference in London, which commenced today. The union has not received further information on his whereabouts, but Ajaero sent a message confirming that the DSS detained him.
NLC released a post on its official X handle denouncing their boss’s arrest as “intimidation” and “assault.”
This arrest comes amid heightened tensions between the NLC and the Nigerian government following recent labor strikes and protests over fuel subsidy removal and economic hardships. Ajaero has been a vocal critic of government policies and has recently led several demonstrations.
The DSS has not yet issued an official statement regarding the reason for Ajaero’s arrest. Still, the incident has sparked concerns about the state of labor rights and freedom of expression in Nigeria.
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 President Joe Ajaero has been arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) at Abuja's Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport while en route to the UK for an official assignment. His whereabouts remain unclear as the NLC demands his immediate release.){kind=link}