Federal Workers Forum Coordinator Andrew Emelieze Released by DSS Amid Public Outcry

Comrade Andrew Emelieze, National Coordinator of the Federal Workers Forum (FWF), has been released by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Ibadan, Oyo State, following days of detention and mounting public pressure.

Sources confirmed on Wednesday morning that Emelieze was freed after being held in connection with a planned nationwide protest set for July 1. The protest was organized to demand the full implementation of the national minimum wage and payment of other outstanding allowances for federal workers.

His arrest had sparked strong condemnation from civil rights groups and labour activists. One source described the detention as “tyrannical,” calling for Emelieze’s immediate release, with the hashtag #RevolutionNow gaining traction online.

The Take-It-Back Movement (TIB) denounced the arrest as “unlawful and arbitrary,” accusing the Nigerian government of attempting to suppress constitutionally guaranteed rights to peaceful protest and assembly.

Emelieze’s detention came amid rising tensions between organized labour and the federal government. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have both issued ultimatums to President Bola Tinubu’s administration, demanding urgent action on the long-overdue national minimum wage review.

His release is seen as a victory for labour advocates and rights groups who warned that continued repression of peaceful activism could escalate public unrest.