The Department of State Services Service (DSS) has freed the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Joe Ajaero, arrested while trying to board a plane to London on Monday.
He was released around 11pm, before a 12midnight deadline set by Labour.
NLC had issued a stern ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the unconditional release of its President, Joe Ajaero, by midnight on Monday, and failure to comply would result in severe consequences.
Also, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, Abuja office was raided on Monday by DSS operatives.
Ismail Bello, Deputy Secretary of NLC, confirmed on AIT that he had been released.
Additionally, the NLC scheduled a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting for Tuesday, September 10, at 9 a.m. to decide on the appropriate actions to take if the demand was not met.
The ultimatum was announced in a communiqué following the NLC’s National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting. The statement, signed by NLC Deputy President Prince Adewale Adeyanju, emphasized the union’s resolve to protect its leadership and ensure Ajaero’s immediate release.
Omoyele Sowore announced the release of Ajaero in a statement through his official X account on Monday midnight.
He tweeted: “BREAKING: The fascist regime of @officialABAT has released the @NLCHeadquarters President Joe Ajaero from @OfficialDSSNG custody on bail.”
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.
NLC immediately placed all its affiliate unions on a red alert for action if Ajaero was not released.
In line with the alert, the National Union of Electricity Employees issued a notice on grid shutdown if Ajaero was not released on Monday.
