The Department of State Services (DSS) has released the National Coordinator of the Federal Workers Forum (FWF), Comrade Andrew Emelieze, days after he was arrested in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State.
Bellnews reports that Emelieze’s release on Wednesday morning followed mounting public criticism and condemnation from civil society groups, labour activists, and rights movements.
According to Bellnews, sources revealed that Emelieze was arrested in connection with the planned nationwide protest scheduled for July 1, which aims to demand the implementation of a new national minimum wage and payment of outstanding allowances.
“This arrest is tyrannical. The DSS must release Andrew immediately! #RevolutionNow,” one source had said during his detention, describing the action as a clear attempt to suppress dissent.
The protest, backed by several labour-aligned groups, is expected to be a major showdown between the federal government and organised labour over unresolved wage issues.
The Take-It-Back Movement (TIB), a prominent civil rights group, strongly condemned Emelieze’s detention, describing it as “unlawful and arbitrary.”
In a statement, the movement accused the Nigerian government of weaponising the security agencies to silence citizens demanding their rights.
“Emelieze’s arrest is a deliberate attempt to stifle constitutionally protected rights to peaceful protest and freedom of assembly,” the group said.
Bellnews reports that Emelieze’s arrest came amid growing tension between the federal government and the nation’s two largest labour centres, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), over the delayed implementation of a new national minimum wage.
Both unions have issued ultimatums to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, demanding swift action on wage increases amid rising inflation and economic hardship.
The minimum wage has remained a contentious issue, with organised labour accusing the government of failing to act in good faith after months of negotiations.