In a statement signed by Acting General Secretary Benson Upah, the NLC recalled that Ajaero was arrested on September 9, 2024, while on his way to attend a UK Trade Union Congress conference in London. The Congress criticized the state's use of violence to suppress protests and intimidate labor leaders.
The NLC stated that the arrest was part of a broader war against workers and the poor, aiming to silence opposition to neoliberal policies such as privatization, tariff hikes, and wage suppression. However, the Congress asserted that this action only strengthened their resolve to struggle.
The NLC called on workers, trade unions, and progressive forces to intensify their collective struggle against the neoliberal agenda. They reaffirmed that the working class is the backbone of democracy and social justice, and attempts to silence them will always fail.
The Congress emphasized the importance of unity, solidarity, and commitment to the sovereignty of the nation and the security of its people. They encouraged workers and citizens to continue making sacrifices to engage the system and make the nation better.