Amnesty International, a prominent global human rights organization, has strongly condemned the arrest and detention of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), by the Department of State Services (DSS).
In a statement released on Monday, Isa Sanusi, the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, expressed grave concern over the incident, criticizing President Bola Tinubu for what he described as a growing pattern of impunity under his administration.
The arrest took place at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Monday, as Ajaero was preparing to travel to the United Kingdom for an official assignment. According to the NLC, Ajaero was scheduled to attend the Trade Union Congress conference in London, which commenced on the same day.
In response to the arrest, Sanusi emphasized that Amnesty International views the detention of the NLC leader as unlawful, demanding his immediate and unconditional release. Sanusi argued that this arbitrary detention represents a troubling escalation in the Nigerian government’s crackdown on human rights and civil liberties, particularly under President Tinubu’s leadership.
Amnesty International’s statement further highlighted what it sees as a persistent pattern of harassment and intimidation against the NLC. According to the organization, the Nigerian government has continuously undermined the labor union’s operations through a series of fabricated allegations, raids on the NLC’s headquarters, and other forms of repression.
Sanusi asserted that these actions reflect a culture of impunity that disregards the rights of workers to organize and advocate for better conditions, urging the government to cease these violations.
Sanusi also warned that President Tinubu’s administration is setting a dangerous precedent by ignoring the rule of law and fundamental human rights. Amnesty International has noted a concerning increase in the government’s repression of labor unions and the broader civic space over the past year, using security agencies such as the police and the DSS to stifle dissent and limit freedoms.
Amnesty International emphasized that Nigeria, as a signatory to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is obligated to protect the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association.
These international agreements include protections for trade union activities, making the targeting of union members for their lawful actions a violation of Nigeria’s commitments.
The statement concluded by reiterating Amnesty International’s call for the Nigerian government to immediately release Joe Ajaero, emphasizing that he has been arrested solely for exercising his peaceful human rights. The organization also urged Nigerian authorities to respect and safeguard workers’ rights as part of their international obligations.
