Joe Ajaero, the current President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), has been a prominent figure in the country’s trade union movement for over two decades. Ajaero’s journey has been marked by a steadfast commitment to advocating for workers’ rights and social justice.
However, he is currently in a face-off with the Nigerian government over matters deemed to be security matters.
Joe Ajaero biography
Joe Ajaero, born on December 17, 1964, in Emekuku, Owerri North area of Imo State, has emerged as a significant figure in trade unionism.
Ajaero’s educational journey began at Emekuku Primary School, followed by secondary education at Government Secondary School in Owerri. He pursued higher education at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1990. He subsequently attended the Times Journalism Institute, where he obtained a postgraduate diploma in 1994.
Furthering his academic credentials, Ajaero completed a Master’s degree in Industrial and Labour Relations from the University of Lagos in 1998. He also enhanced his expertise with a Certificate in Advanced Tariff Structuring and Subsidy Design from the International Professional Practice Partnership in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2003. His commitment to education continued with him getting a law degree from Baze University, Abuja, in 2023.
Additionally, he has attended various prestigious institutions, including St. George’s Business School at Cambridge University and Harvard Business School, further solidifying his knowledge and skills in his fields of interest.
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Joe Ajaero career
Ajaero’s professional career commenced in 1990 as a research officer at the One Mechanised Infantry Division of the Nigerian Army in Kaduna for his National Youth Service Corps. He then joined Vanguard Media Limited in 1992, working as a reporter/correspondent and assistant news editor until 2001.
In 2001, Ajaero joined the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) as the Head of Training/Information. His dedication and leadership skills propelled him to become the National President of NUEE in 2005. Ajaero’s commitment to workers’ rights and welfare continued to grow.
In September 2023, Ajaero was elected President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), succeeding Ayuba Wabba who had served two terms from 2015 to 2023. As the NLC President, Ajaero has been at the forefront of advocating for better working conditions and welfare for workers in Nigeria.
However, Ajaero’s career has not been without challenges. In September 2024, he was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while preparing to travel to the United Kingdom for an official assignment.
The NLC condemned the arrest, describing it as an act of intimidation aimed at silencing the labour movement. After international pressure and a demand for his immediate and unconditional release, Ajaero regained his freedom.
Joe Ajaero’s net worth
There are no reports on Ajaero’s net worth currently.
Joe Ajaero family
Details about Ajaero’s family are private and not available to the public.
Joe Ajaero age
Ajaero was born on December 17, 1964. He is currently 59 years old and will turn 60 in 2024.
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Joe Ajaero now
Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on September 11, 2024. His arrest occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja as he was preparing to travel to the United Kingdom for the UK’s Trade Union Congress meeting.
The circumstances surrounding his detention are reportedly linked to his vocal criticism of the Nigerian government’s recent increase in gasoline prices, which he and many others view as detrimental to the welfare of Nigerian workers, as well as over the declaration of a British man, Andrew Wynne, as a fugitive by the Nigeria Police Force for alleged treason.
Ajaero’s arrest has been met with widespread condemnation from various sectors, including the NLC itself, which described the action as an attempt to intimidate and silence the labour movement in Nigeria. Following significant public outcry and calls for his release, Ajaero was released shortly after his arrest. However, his passport was confiscated by the secret police.
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