SOCIALIST Labour has condemned the detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero, the president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the invasion of the Abuja offices of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday.
A statement by Socialist Labour, signed by Dr. James Uanhoro and Dr. Izielen Agbon, stated that “[t]he arrest of Joe Ajaero graphically demonstrates how desperate the Government is” adding that “the Government was afraid that Joe Ajaero would use the conference as an international platform to denounce the despotism, maladministration and authoritarianism of this wretched, decrepit government.”
The statement, entitled: “Release Joe Ajaero and all Those Detained Around the #EndBadGovernance/#EndHunger Protests”, reads:
“Socialist Labour condemns the detention of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, this morning.
“We equally condemn the invasion of the Abuja offices of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) by the DSS. The arrest of Joe Ajaero graphically demonstrates how desperate the Government is. Arrested on his way to attend the Trade Union Conference in the United Kingdom, the Government was afraid that Joe Ajaero would use the conference as an international platform to denounce the despotism, maladministration and authoritarianism of this wretched, decrepit government.
“The Government was clearly very worried by the scale and support for the resistance against its anti-human policies of increased fuel prices, higher electric tariffs, unpaid low minimum wages, higher school fees, higher tax rates, higher food prices, higher transport costs and bad governance. They hope that heavy repression will stop future protests against hunger, higher PMS prices and bad governance. The police arrested over 2,000 including some children around the protests last month. They tortured many and hundreds remain in detention. Many of these detainees do not have legal representation and are being held unconstitutionally in excess of two day.
“In Abuja, 10 people are being held for the serious crimes treason, incitement to mutiny and levying war against the state. This is despite the complete lack of any real evidence for these crimes. They are being represented by Femi Falana who has led and won the defence for four previous treason trials.
“The NLC, in their initial press release over the detention of their President correctly said:
“We equally demand that the state frees all Nigerians languishing in various prisons around the country for exercising their democratic rights to protest in the #EndBadGovernance rallies around the country.
“It is not enough for the trade union movement to be put on red alert. Now is the time for robust action. Trade union branches and officials can provide more solidarity, especially to those detained locally in their states. We need to ensure that these detainees are not forgotten.
“All trade union branches and civil society organisations should adopt a detainee or a group of detainees. The trade unions can work with the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to ensure that all detainees have adequate legal representation and support. They also need to work together to ensure the detainees appear in court as soon as possible.
“Socialist Labour calls on the Federal Government to immediately release Joe Ajaero, the NLC President and put its coercive arms (police, armed forces, security agencies) under the rule of law. The police should not be provided with live ammunition when attending protests. All those detained in connection with the protests should also be immediately released. The police should immediately repair all damaged properties and return stolen materials and books to the bookshop in the NLC HQ.
“We call on our supporters, trade unions and civil society organisations to attend the bail hearing for the Abuja 10 accused of treason, 9 am Wednesday, 11th September, at the Federal High Court, Shehu Shagari Express Way, 1002 First Ave, Central Business District, Abuja.
“The trade union movement needs to take tougher action now, including a general strike, in defence of our human rights and to #EndHunger and #EndBadGovernance .”
