Air Peace has issued a statement distancing itself from the recent arrest of Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The airline's spokesperson, Omotade Makinwa, clarified that although Air Peace had filed a petition against Ajaero in September 2023 following a disruption of its operations in Owerri by the union, the matter had been amicably resolved long before his arrest.
Makinwa emphasized, "We express deep concern over recent media reports regarding the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in connection to a petition filed by the airline in September 2023.
This development, which has led to negative publicity, does not reflect the current relationship between Air Peace and the NLC." He further explained that the police chose to act on the original petition despite the resolution, leading to Ajaero's detention.
The arrest of Ajaero has sparked massive controversy and backlash from various quarters. The NLC's National Administrative Council condemned the detention as "brazen and illegal," demanding his immediate release and calling for a reversal of the recent petrol price hike to N617/litre.
Pro-democracy activist Omoyele Sowore announced Ajaero's release on social media, stating, "BREAKING: The fascist regime of @officialABAT has released the @NLCHeadquarters President Joe Ajaero from @OfficialDSSNG custody on bail."
Amnesty International Nigeria also criticized the arrest, with Director Isa Sanusi noting, "The arbitrary arrest of Joe Ajaero shows an escalating crackdown on human rights and restrictions on civic space by the government of President Bola Tinubu."
The organization called for Ajaero's immediate and unconditional release, highlighting the government's obligation to respect and protect workers' rights under international human rights law.
In response to the arrest, the NLC held a closed-door meeting with stakeholders, preparing for a potential nationwide strike. The Trade Union Congress and other labor unions echoed the call for Ajaero's release, condemning the government's actions as a violation of democratic principles and workers' rights.
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