The Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) has refuted claims of human rights violations in the arrest of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
On Monday, The New Daily Prime reported that the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested Mr. Ajaero at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while he was en route to the United Kingdom for an official assignment. He was released after spending several hours in DSS custody.
The arrest has drawn widespread criticism, with prominent figures such as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of authoritarianism and using state apparatus to intimidate Nigerians.
In response, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy, stated that the Nigerian government remains committed to safeguarding civil liberties and the rights of all citizens.
Mr. Onanuga emphasized that Mr. Ajaero’s arrest demonstrates that no individual is above the law, according to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended). He added that, like the United Kingdom and other democratic nations, Nigeria is governed by the rule of law.
The statement partly read: “The Trade Union Congress in the United Kingdom opened its conference today in London, with its leader making false claims about human rights abuses in Nigeria. The Nigerian government was wrongly accused of rights violations because the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, was stopped from traveling abroad after he ignored an invitation from a law enforcement agency conducting an ongoing investigation. Ajaero, who perhaps considers himself above the law, was scheduled to speak at the same conference where the UK TUC leader criticized Nigeria.
“His actions, however, have serious consequences, as no one is above the law in Nigeria. We are unaware of any individual in the United Kingdom, Europe, or the United States, including trade union leaders, who would disregard an invitation or summons from MI5, Scotland Yard, or the FBI in the manner that Mr. Ajaero has treated Nigerian law enforcement agencies. For instance, in the United States, former President Donald Trump has faced numerous investigations and prosecutions since leaving office, while Mr. Hunter Biden, the son of the U.S. President, is currently under investigation by the FBI.”
Additionally, Mr. Onanuga reaffirmed that the FG unequivocally rejects any claims of human rights violations. He argued that the accusations made by the UK’s Trade Union Congress and others stem from a misunderstanding of the situation.
Furthermore, he asserted that there is no adversarial relationship between the Nigerian government and the labour movement.
“While labour unions and the government may not always agree on policy, the government has consistently demonstrated its readiness to engage with labour on any issue, despite the latter’s political partisanship. Contrary to the erroneous impression being created, the DSS’s invitation to Mr. Ajaero had nothing to do with his position as NLC President.
“As a responsible citizen of Nigeria, Mr. Ajaero should honour any invitation from our security agencies and resolve any issues that arise during investigations, rather than stirring negative public opinion against these agencies. It is worth reminding Nigerians and the global community that the government recognizes the labour movement’s role in protecting and defending the interests of its members. However, labour unions often advance ideological positions that conflict with economic realities,” the statement added.
Mr. Onanuga also claimed that the ideological positions of Nigeria’s labour unions have historically impeded the country’s economic growth and development. He argued that these stances have not only hindered overall progress but have also undermined the material well-being of workers and marginalized groups.
“A notable example was the NLC and TUC’s opposition to the sale of the Port-Harcourt and Kaduna refineries to the Bluestar Consortium, led by Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola, during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration in 2007. Seventeen years after the labour movement forced the succeeding government of Umar Yar’Adua to cancel the sale of the refineries, none of the four government-owned refineries are functional.
“In contrast, Mr. Aliko Dangote, one of the promoters of Bluestar, has built the largest single-train refinery in the world. Ironically, the same labour movement that opposed Dangote in 2007 celebrated him upon the completion of his 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Lagos. The administration of President Tinubu remains committed to promoting the best economic interests of Nigerians, despite the current challenges. It will continue to pursue policies and programs that expand national economic output and create prosperity for all citizens.”
