KEY POINTS
- The Nigerian government rejects claims of rights abuse in Ajaero’s arrest.
- DSS detained NLC President Ajaero at Abuja airport en route to London.
- The UK Trade Union Congress raises concerns over Nigeria’s treatment of labor leaders.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has dismissed allegation made by the United Kingdom Trade Union Congress (TUC) concerning rights infringement on Joe Ajaero the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The UK’s TUC frowned at the arrest and detention of Comrade Ajaero by the Department of State Services (DSS) at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, just as he was to travel to London for a TUC conference.
According to Vanguard, the arrest has thus brought mixed reactions both at the local and global level with the UK’s TUC claiming that the Nigerian government is derogating on the rights of the union leaders.
However, these allegations have been vehemently dismissed by the Federal Government stating that no one in Nigeria regardless of his or her status enjoys immunity from the enabling laws of the country.
Federal government stands for the DSS action against the NLC president
Regarding the issue, the Nigerian government stated that the arrest was made under legal provisions.
A senior official noted that although the government embraces the work of trade unions in demanding rights for workers, the government is equally against action that is against the law in the country.
The Department of State Services investigated and acted within the context of the nation’s laws to protect the country from anarchy and enforce regulations and the law, no one is immune to it, not even the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress.
The statement also added that Ajaero was arrested as a suspect in an ongoing investigation, and all legal procedures will be observed so that his rights can be preserved during the investigation process.
TUC of UK has expressed concern over arrest of labour leader
The TUC of the UK, however, expressed some concern as to the circumstances under which Ajaero was arrested with fears that it depicts a bad example regarding the treatment of labour leaders in Nigeria to the rest of the world.
Critically, the UK TUC has urged the Nigerian Government to abide by the best practices in the international labor relations and to protect the union leadership.
As a result, the Federal Government has re-affirmed its stand in fully respecting and protecting basic rights through the enforcement of the country’s laws.
It further stated that the actions of the DSS were not meant to intimidate the labor movement but to enforce responsibility from everybody no matter the domain he or she belongs to.
This act is coming at a time that the Nigeria government and the labour unions have been put on the red colours due to recent economic measure such as the removal of fuel subsidies that has given rise to series of protests and strikes across the country.
In this situation, the world continues to look at Nigeria’s government to weigh the security needs of its people against their rights to the liberty and with extra focus on political leaders.
The arrest of Joe Ajaero brings to bear the law enforcement agencies relations to the civil liberties’ protection in Nigeria. The consequences of those measures taken by the government and macroeconomic and social problems that the country faces will influence the political activities of labor unions in the coming months.
