NLC decries DSS treatment of Sowore, warns against anti-democratic threats

By Moses Akwashiki

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC, Joe Ajaero, has decried the conduct of operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) during the arrest and detention of activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, Ajaero described the actions of DSS personnel as excessive, intimidating and unbecoming of an institution expected to operate with professionalism and sophistication.
The labour leader expressed concern over what he termed the “rowdy scene,” “bullish behaviour,” and “mass intimidation” allegedly displayed by DSS operatives while taking Sowore into custody.
He argued that the humiliation meted out to the activist was unnecessary and embarrassing to an agency charged with safeguarding national security.
“We are opposed to this kind of drama by our Secret Service as there was no need for it,” Ajaero stated, questioning the motive behind the manner in which the operation was carried out.
The NLC president further raised concerns about the role being played by the DSS in the matter, arguing that the agency appeared to be acting simultaneously as accuser and jailer.
According to him, issues of prosecution should ordinarily fall within the purview of the Ministry of Justice and the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Ajaero warned that the DSS risks straying from its constitutional mandate if it becomes overly involved in matters that suggest protection of individuals or governments rather than the broader interests of the Nigerian state.
He emphasized that the agency’s constitutional responsibility is to monitor threats to national security and act to preserve the state, rather than champion the interests of any particular individual or administration.
“The Nigerian State is superior to all individuals or governments, and the DSS ought to know the difference,” he said.
Drawing a historical parallel, Ajaero referenced the resignation of former United States President Richard Nixon following the Watergate scandal, arguing that strong democratic institutions must take precedence over powerful individuals.
He stressed that the survival of democracy depends on the strength and independence of institutions, warning that excessive loyalty to political officeholders at the expense of constitutional principles could undermine democratic governance.
“We need strong institutions and not strong individuals for our democracy to survive. Strong individuals constitute a threat to democracy anywhere,” Ajaero said.
The NLC president concluded by urging security agencies and public institutions to respect the rights of citizens and adhere strictly to their constitutional responsibilities in the interest of democracy and the rule of law.