Amnesty International Nigeria has expressed strong disapproval over the recent actions taken by the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) against Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The police invited Ajaero for questioning on Monday, citing allegations of terrorism financing, treasonable felony, cybercrime, and other related offenses.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Isa Sanusi, the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, condemned the allegations, describing them as a blatant attempt to intimidate and harass the NLC and its leadership. The organization warned against the continued pattern of impunity exhibited by the Nigerian authorities, which it said threatens the rights of labor unions to express dissent against government policies.
“Amnesty International is deeply concerned by the Nigerian authorities’ fresh attempts to further intimidate and harass the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) through threats of arrest of its President Joe Ajaero,” Sanusi stated.
“We urge the authorities to end this pattern of brazen impunity and respect the right of the labor unions to agree or disagree with the government and its policies.”
The statement emphasized that freedom of association, as enshrined under international human rights law and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, protects workers from being targeted for their involvement in trade union activities. It further noted that the Nigerian government has a duty not only to respect these rights but also to actively safeguard them from abuse.
Amnesty International highlighted a troubling trend over the past year, wherein the Nigerian government has increasingly attempted to silence the NLC by discrediting the union and its leadership through various means. The organization described this as a new low in the government’s human rights record.
“In Nov. last year, the President of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Mr. Joe Ajaero was beaten and blindfolded by the police in connivance with thugs sponsored by Imo state government in Owerri. No one was held to account for the assault,” Sanusi recounted.
“Recently, Nigeria Police raided the headquarters of NLC and carted away documents and books. After the raid, the union labor leaders had to go into hiding for safety reasons. In February, the leadership of NLC cried out over threats and intimidation they faced over a legitimate strike action.”
The statement concluded by urging the Nigerian authorities to immediately cease their crackdown on the NLC and its leaders. Amnesty International described the allegations against Ajaero and the union as baseless and punitive, aimed solely at discouraging the NLC from advocating for workers’ rights.
“The Nigerian government is clearly and unlawfully interfering with the functioning of an independent workers union, by targeting its leaders with baseless accusations that are gradually crippling the activities of the union,” Sanusi asserted.
“The organization urges the Nigerian authorities to immediately end this bizarre crackdown on leaders of the nation’s labor union. The allegations against NLC and its leadership are just punitive measures aimed solely at deterring and punishing them for standing up for workers’ rights.”
