DSS Releases NLC President Ajaero On Bail

Hours after his arrest, Monday morning, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, the Department of State Services (DSS) has released the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero on bail.

Ajaero was reportedly released at about 11:10 pm late Monday, about 50 minutes to the midnight deadline issued by the Labour Union to the Federal Government for his release.

The labour leader was on his way to the United Kingdom for a Trade Union Congress meeting in Britain when he was whisked away by operatives of the secret police.

Affiliate organisations of the Labour Union were late Monday placed on red alert, following an emergency meeting in reaction to Ajaero’s arrest and directed to mobilise for a showdown with government if the NLC president was not released by midnight.

LEADERSHIP reports that the decision was conveyed through a communique released after the meeting by the National Administrative Council of the NLC in Abuja.

The Labour Union warned that no effort would be spared towards halting what it described as the sliding of Nigeria into a state of authoritarianism in view of Ajaero’s arrest.

NLC’s Deputy President, Comrade Adeyanju Adewale who signed the communique also summoned an emergency meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) for Tuesday where further directives would be given to workers.