Emelieze was reportedly arrested over his role in mobilising federal civil servants to demand the full payment of consequential adjustments to the national minimum wage and related allowances.

The Workers’ Rights Campaign (WRC) has demanded the immediate release of Andrew Emelieze, the National Coordinator of the Federal Workers Forum, who was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on June 30, 2025.

Emelieze was reportedly arrested over his role in mobilising federal civil servants to demand the full payment of consequential adjustments to the national minimum wage and related allowances.

 SaharaReporters had reported that his arrest came on the eve of a planned nationwide protest scheduled for July 1, spearheaded by the Forum to draw attention to the plight of federal workers.

In a statement jointly signed on Tuesday by WRC National Coordinator, Lai Brown, and National Secretary, Ayemhenre Kelvin, the group described Emelieze’s detention as "draconian" and an indication of "the tyrannical nature of the APC regime under President Bola Tinubu."

The WRC criticised the government for using state security agencies to intimidate labour activists instead of addressing the genuine grievances of public workers struggling under the weight of economic hardship.

 They said instead of meeting the legitimate demands of workers whose take-home pay can no longer take them home, the Tinubu regime has resorted to repression through the DSS.

They further accused the administration of weaponising poverty and fear to silence dissent.

 WRC explained that the  politics of repression is a clear attempt to instil fear and crush the rising anger of working people. But they want to state clearly that the working class will not be cowed. They will resist, organise, and fight back.

 The statement read,  "The workers’ demands are legitimate. They asked for the full implementation of the national minimum wage, non-taxation & consequential adjustment for workers in light of the upward review of the minimum age, and full payment of the remaining wage award preceding the minimum wage agreement between the state and organised labour.

"Instead of addressing these concerns by the workers whom can barely survive on take home pay that cannot take them home due to the harsh economic policies inflicted by the Tinubu regime, this regime through the DSS continues with its politics of repression, doing its best to unleash and instil fear all in a bid to silent dissenting voices.

"But working-class people will not be cowed. We will fight and we will stand in solidarity against all tactics of repression, suppression and oppression. 

"WRC therefore demands that Andrew Emelieze is released immediately and the demands of the Federal Workers Forum be fully met."