Amnesty International has condemned the unlawful arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC Comrade Joe Ajaero by the Department of State Service at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Monday.
Responding to the unlawful arrest Isa Sanusi, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, said: “Amnesty International strongly condemns the unlawful arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, by the Department of State Services (DSS) today. The labour union leader must be immediately and unconditionally released.”
“The arbitrary arrest of Joe Ajaero shows an escalating crackdown on human rights and restrictions on civic space by the government of President Bola Tinubu.”
“President Bola Tinubu’s government persistently attacks and undermines the operations of the NLC through fabricated allegations, raids on NLC headquarters, and other forms of harassment and intimidation. This growing culture of impunity and disdain for workers’ rights to organize and seek better welfare must stop.”
The Human Rights Advocacy group disclosed that President Tinubu is setting a new record of utter disregard for the rule of law and pointed out that Nigeria is also a member of the International Labour Organization, whose fundamental principles, including the right to organize, are binding on all members.
“Amnesty International has observed, in the last year, the increasing crackdown by Nigerian authorities on the labour union and civic space. The authorities continue to weaponize the police and DSS to repress the human rights of Nigerians.”
“Nigeria is a party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, including trade union membership and activities. The country is also a member of the International Labour Organization, whose fundamental principles, including the right to organize, are binding on all members.”
“Under international human rights law, workers cannot be targeted for participating in trade union activities. The Nigerian authorities have an obligation not only to respect the rights of workers but also to protect these rights from abuse.”
“Joe Ajaero was arrested solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights and must be immediately and unconditionally released.”
On Monday, Comrade Ajaero was seized at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and whisked away by operatives of the DSS while on his way to the United Kingdom on the invitation of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain.
NLC in a statement called for the unconditional release of its President while disclosing that there was no legal warrant for his arrest and asserted that Comrade Ajaero was no fugitive.
