The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has added its voice to the condemnation that has continued to trail the arrest of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joe Ajaero by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that Comrade Ajaero was earlier on Monday, picked up by men of the DSS at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while he was on his way to the United Kingdom.
Condemning the arrest of the NLC president, NUEE Acting General Secretary of NUEE, Igwebike Dominic, in a strongly-worded statement on Monday evening, expressed concerns over the detention of Ajaero.
The statement argued that the labor leader had been detained and treated like a fugitive and is without access to his lawyers, families, and colleagues.
It said the action of the secret police violates the fundamental rights and freedom of Ajaero as a Nigerian.
The union also called on the government to desist from “unscrupulous harassment,” of labour leaders and workers.
The NUEE statement reads, “We are demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Com. 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 they are governing.”
According to the statement, the government wants to silence the voice of those who speak out to protest their deplorable state of living and economic hardship.
Comrade Ajaero, the union noted, represents the Nigerian workers and the common man on the street.
It added, “This act of the government signifies trampling on masses and is tantamount to beating a child and preventing the child from crying.
“An injury to Ajaero is an injury to all Nigerian workers and Electricity employees. Nigeria is our collective country; our leaders should not make us live like slaves who cannot express themselves in our country.
“We demand unequivocal and unconditional release of Com. Joe Ajaero, without any harm, meted to him. We are using this medium to put all our members on alert for further directives.”
Meanwhile, the NLC has given the government till midnight to free Comrade Ajaero.
