The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has described the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, as a blow to all Nigerians.
The Acting General Secretary of the Union, Igwebike Dominic, in a statement, emphasized that Ajaero represents the Nigerian workers and the common man on the street, arguing that his arrest and detention by “Agents of the Nigerian State” amounts to trampling on the masses, which is tantamount to beating a child and preventing it from crying.
“The last we know, Nigeria is still a democratic nation, so why is the government witch-hunting and trying to silence those that speak out to protest against their deplorable state of living and economic hardship?” the NUEE Ag. General Secretary queried.
“An injury to Ajaero is an injury to all Nigerian workers and Electricity employees in particular. Nigeria is our collective country; our leaders should not make us live like slaves that cannot express themselves in our own country.”
He lamented that Ajaero has been detained and treated like a fugitive without access to his lawyers, family and colleagues, describing this as an act of intimidation and a violation of his fundamental rights and freedom as a Nigerian citizen.
“We are demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero and we are saying to the government to desist from its unscrupulous harassment of labour leaders and Nigerian workers who speak out on the crushing hardship they are battling with, caused by the irresponsible acts of the government that has turned deaf ears to the groaning of the people that it is governing.”
