By John Michael

Following the allegations of terrorism financing leveled against him by the State, Joe Ajaero, the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress was on Monday arrested by operatives of the Department of the State Service, DSS.

Ajaero whose arrest occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, was said to be on his way to the United Kingdom, UK, where he was billed to attend the Trade Union Congress conference in London, which begins today  .

Meanwhile, while reacting to Ajaero’s arrest via a statement on its X handle, NLC described the arrest of the embattled union leader as an intimidation of Nigerian workers by the government and added that such an action would not be accepted.

The statement reads: “The assault on Nigerian workers continues. President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, was arrested and abducted by men of the DSS at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, this morning on his way to attend an official engagement of TUC United Kingdom, and he is now detained at the office of the NSA.

“This intimidation and assault must stop!!!” it added.

President Bola Tinubu’s aide, Ajuri Ngelale, has resigned . Ngelale was the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity.

New Times learnt that Ngelale proceeded on an indefinite leave to attend to pressing medical matters affecting his immediate family.

In a statement he posted on his general communication WhatsApp platform on Saturday, Ngelale revealed that he submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff on Friday.

He noted that the memo was a means of notifying him of the decision to pause his functions, including his roles as Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action and Chairman of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.

Ngelale explained that the decision was after consultations with his family due to a worsening medical situation at home.

He expressed hope to return to full-time national service when circumstances permit.

He, however, requested privacy for his family during the challenging time.

The leave of absence takes effect immediately, with no specified date for his return.

He wrote, “On Friday, I submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing my office that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family.

“While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home.

“I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit.

“I respectfully ask for some privacy for my family and I during this time.”