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The global human rights organisation in a statement issued on its X account on Monday night said, “Amnesty International is deeply concerned by the Nigerian authorities’ fresh attempts to further intimidate and harass Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) through threats of arrest of its President Joe Ajaero. We urge the authorities to end this pattern of brazen impunity.
Global human rights body, the Amnesty International, has decried what it described as brazen frequent and unprecedented unlawful attacks, intimidations and harassments of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) leaders.\
Amnesty International in its reaction to the Nigeria Police Force invitation of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, over allegations of “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime,” asked President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government to end its pattern of brazen impunity and unlawful interference with the functioning of an independent workers union, by targeting its leaders with baseless accusations that are gradually crippling the activities of the union.
The global human rights organisation in a statement issued on its X account on Monday night said, “Amnesty International is deeply concerned by the Nigerian authorities’ fresh attempts to further intimidate and harass Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) through threats of arrest of its President Joe Ajaero. We urge the authorities to end this pattern of brazen impunity.
“Frequent and unprecedented targeting of NLC and its leaders is a worrying sign of the Nigerian government’s disregard for the right of workers to organize, bargain collectively and take industrial action.”
Amnesty International recalled in November 2023, Ajaero was beaten and blindfolded by the police “in connivance with thugs sponsored by the Imo state government in Owerri. No one was held to account for the assault.”
According to Amnesty International, “Under international human rights law and standards, 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.
“Recently, Nigeria Police raided the headquarters of NLC and carted away documents and books.
“After the raid, labour 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 strike action.
“The Nigerian authorities must end this bizarre crackdown on leaders of the nation’s labour union.
“The ridiculous accusations against NLC and its leadership are just punitive measures aimed solely at deterring and punishing them for standing up 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.”
https://x.com/AmnestyNigeria/status/1825649046297395573
SaharaReporters reported on Monday that the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), summoned Ajaero over allegations of “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.”
The invitation, detailed in an official letter, requires Ajaero to appear for an interview on Tuesday, 20th August 2024, at the IRT Complex in Guzape District, Abuja.
According to the letter, the investigation has identified Ajaero as a person of interest in the case.
“You are therefore invited to interview the undersigned on Tuesday 20th Aug, 2024 by 10:00hrs prompt,” the letter stated.
The letter further warned that failure to comply could lead to a warrant for Ajaero’s arrest.
SaharaReporters had reported that armed security men on Wednesday, August 7 invaded the Labour House, the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja, breaking into some offices and carting materials away.
A source said they took various materials away in their vans, claiming that the materials were used to incite and organise the
#EndBadGovernance protests in the country.
