The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has strongly condemned the arrest of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero by officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday.

Ajaero, who was en route to the United Kingdom, has since been detained, with his current whereabouts still unknown.

In a statement issued on Monday, Festus Osifo, President of the TUC, criticized the arrest as an unjust violation of Ajaero’s fundamental rights to freedom of association and expression.

These rights, Osifo stated, are critical to the functioning of a democratic society.

“The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has received with grave concern the news of the arrest of the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) earlier today.

“This unjust action represents a clear violation of the rights to freedom of association and expression, fundamental pillars in any democratic society,” the TUC statement read.

The TUC condemned the arrest, calling for Ajaero’s immediate and unconditional release.

The union expressed alarm that such an action could set a dangerous precedent, not only for the leadership of Nigeria’s labour movement but also for millions of working-class Nigerians who depend on unions to protect their rights and interests.

“It is imperative that the government respects the rule of law, democratic norms, and the legitimate rights of workers and their representatives,” Osifo continued.

“The labour movement has always stood for peaceful negotiations,” he added.

The TUC further urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to prioritize dialogue and reconciliation rather than resorting to harassment of labour leaders.

Osifo stressed that the union stands in solidarity with the NLC and reaffirmed the TUC’s commitment to defending the rights and dignity of Nigerian workers.

“We, therefore, urge the Nigerian government to prioritize dialogue and reconciliation over harassment.

“We stand in solidarity with the NLC and reaffirm our commitment to defending the rights and dignity of Nigerian workers,” the statement concluded.