NLC President Joe Ajaero Explains Reasons Behind DSS Arrest

Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has shared details of his recent interactions with the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies following his arrest and detention.

The DSS had confiscated Ajaero’s phones and international passport during his arrest. He confirmed that these items were returned to him on Tuesday.

Ajaero described his experience as distressing, revealing that he was initially detained by the DSS but interrogated by both DSS officials and operatives from the Intelligence Response Team (IRT), a department of the Police. He expressed confusion and dismay over the public nature of his embarrassment.

During the interrogation, security officials revisited many questions that had been previously asked in a meeting held on August 29, 2024, which included prominent lawyer Femi Falana. The questions ranged from operational details about the Iva Valley Bookshop located in the NLC secretariat to communications with certain individuals.

Particularly, Ajaero was questioned about his association with Eleojo Opaluwa, a staff member of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), whom Ajaero had hired, and the individual’s involvement in protests tagged as #EndBadGovernance or #EndHunger.

Moreover, the security agents probed into the NLC’s relationship with the Labour Party (LP), asking if the NLC was managing the party. Ajaero clarified that while they do not run the LP, the NLC serves as a trustee, and he recounted the party’s foundation during Adams Oshiomhole’s tenure as NLC President.

The interrogation also covered previously resolved issues, such as a matter involving Air Peace, which Ajaero mentioned had been settled last year.

Ajaero expressed his concern that these repeated interrogations seemed aimed at finding grounds to charge him and his colleagues, reflecting a pattern of harassment aimed at intimidating and undermining their efforts.