DSS releases NLC President, Ajaero amid outrage, looming strike

The Department of State Services Service, DSS, has released Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress.

Ajaero was released late Monday night on administrative bail in what is considered a move to avert a potential shutdown of the economy.

Omoyele Sowore confirmed the release of Ajaero in a statement through his official X account on Monday midnight.

“BREAKING: The fascist regime of @officialABAT has released the @NLCHeadquarters President Joe Ajaero from @OfficialDSSNG custody on bail,” he wrote on X.com.

However, NLC had not officially confirmed his release as of the time of filing this report.

This comes after NLC in a communique threatened to shut down the country’s economy if Ajaero was not released before midnight on Monday.

Ajaero was arrested Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, while on his way to the United Kingdom for an official engagement.

His arrest had drawn condemnation across the spectrum with both NLC and Trade Union Congress calling for his immediate release.

This is as NLC ordered all its affiliate unions to be on a red alert for action if Ajaero was not released.

Consequently, the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE issued a notice on grid shutdown if Ajaero was not released on Monday.

Don’t worsen economic hardship, dialogue with NLC – CPPE tells DSS

Meanwhile, the Director of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf has urged the Department of State Services not to worsen the country’s economic hardship with the arrest of Ajaero.

Yusuf told DAILY POST on Monday while reacting to the arrest of Ajaero that the situation could have an impact on Nigeria’s economy.

“The way forward is to dialogue because any strike or protest will further worsen the state of Nigeria’s economy, we cannot afford that at this moment.

“Both the security agency and the NLC should have an engagement. The security agency should be open. If there is any charge against Joe Ajaero, there are channels to go about it instead of creating uncertainty and suspicion.

“Things should be openly put on the table in line with the rule of law. That should happen so that we do not create another crisis that will disrupt the economy”, he said.

DSS clampdown may spread to media, others – NLC warns

The spokesperson of the NLC, Benson Upah told the DAILY POST on Monday that the clampdown by the DSS may spread like a virus across the civic space in Nigeria.

According to him, the arrest of Ajaero was an organized crime by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration against the people.

He added that media organizations may be clamped down upon by the DSS in the coming days.

“This arrest is not limited to the Nigeria Labour Congress, organized labour. This clampdown will spread viral. It is an organized crime against the people of this country. Who has been beaten and told not to cry?

“This is the beginning. We do anticipate worse things to happen. The signals are quite clear. Organs of NLC are to meet to make decisions as the case may be.

“There is the possibility of the clampdown spreading to the media. The threat is real”, he said.

This comes as the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, Abuja office was also raided on Monday by DSS operatives.