Amnesty International Nigeria, on Tuesday, accused the Federal Government of making plans to undermine and intimidate the Nigeria Labour Congress and its leadership.
Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, In a statement, condemned the fresh allegations of terrorism levelled against the NLC and its leaders.
AI described the allegations as a blatant attempt to cripple the union.
“Amnesty International is deeply concerned by the Nigerian authorities’ fresh attempts to further intimidate and harass the Nigerian Labour Congress through threats of arrest of its President Joe Ajaero,” it said.
AI stressed that the government’s actions are a clear violation of international human rights laws, particularly the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantees the freedom of association.
“Workers cannot be targeted for participating in trade union activities,” he added.
AI highlighted that in the past year, the Nigerian government has been making strenuous attempts to silence the NLC, describing the pattern as a “new low in this government’s human rights records.”
He recalled a series of incidents, including the assault on NLC President Joe Ajaero last November, when he was allegedly beaten and blindfolded by police officers in collaboration with thugs sponsored by the Imo State Government.
“No one was held to account for the assault,” the statement noted, expressing concern over the impunity surrounding the case.
The AI also criticised a recent raid by the Nigeria Police on the NLC headquarters, during which documents and books were seized. Following the raid, union leaders were forced into hiding due to safety concerns.
It also recalled the threats and intimidation faced by the NLC leadership over legitimate strike action in February, describing these as clear signs of unlawful interference by the government in the functioning of an independent workers’ union.
“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,” the statement added.
AI urged the authorities to “immediately end this bizarre crackdown on leaders of the nation’s labour union,” stressing that the allegations against the NLC leadership are punitive measures aimed solely at deterring and punishing them for defending workers’ rights.
