Nigeria Labour Congress president, Joe Ajaero arrested in Imo

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, was apprehended in Owerri, the capital of Imo State. He was detained by heavily armed police officers at the NLC State Council Secretariat in Owerri and subsequently transported to an undisclosed location.

This development was communicated by Benson Upper, the Head of Media at the NLC Headquarters, via a WhatsApp message to Channels Television. The arrest occurred as the NLC was leading a widespread protest and strike in Owerri, citing issues such as the lack of respect for workers, unpaid salaries, and pensions, among other grievances.

Sources indicate that the labour leader was taken into custody at the NLC secretariat in Imo while he was preparing to lead an ‘Occupy Imo’ protest scheduled for the day. The police explained that Ajaero was arrested for allegedly violating an existing court order issued by the National Industrial Court, which prohibited the NLC and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) from conducting any protests in the state.

When approached for comment, Henry Okoye, the police spokesperson in Imo, stated that he currently had no information regarding the labour leader’s arrest and would provide details once he had a clearer understanding of the situation.

The NLC leadership in Imo distanced itself from the protest, asserting that the accusations made by the NLC national leadership against the state government were unfounded. In a statement released on Wednesday, the NLC and TUC national leaderships in Abuja accused the Imo State Government of intimidating trade unions in the state.

Read full statement: