DSS releases Joe Ajaero’s seized passport

The Department of State Services (DSS) released the passport of Joe Ajaero, the embattled national president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). This development followed intense pressure and widespread condemnation from various quarters, including the NLC itself.

Ajaero's ordeal began on Monday when he was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while en route to the United Kingdom for the Trade Union Congress conference in London. The DSS detained him for over 15 hours, during which they seized his mobile phones and passport. The arrest, which occurred without a warrant, sparked outrage among labor unions and civil society groups, who viewed it as an act of intimidation and a violation of democratic rights.

The DSS initially refused to release Ajaero's passport and phones, even after granting him administrative bail on Monday evening. However, Ajaero's steadfast refusal to leave the DSS headquarters without his belongings led to the return of his phones later that night. His passport was finally handed over to his lawyer, Marshal Abubakar from Femi & Falana’s Chambers, on Tuesday morning.

In response to Ajaero's detention, the NLC postponed a scheduled meeting meant to address the situation and issued a strong statement condemning the DSS's actions. Benson Upah, NLC Head of Information and Public Affairs, described the detention as a "brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation," emphasizing that Ajaero had not been declared wanted by any law enforcement body.

The NLC also issued a midnight ultimatum to the government, demanding Ajaero's immediate release. The DSS eventually succumbed to the mounting pressure, releasing Ajaero before the ultimatum expired.

This incident has heightened tensions between the Nigerian government and labor unions, with the NLC vowing to remain vigilant against any further attempts to undermine their leadership and members' rights.