Presidency to UK TUC: Ajaero not above the law — claim of human rights abuses unfounded

The presidency has reacted to the comment made by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the United Kingdom (UK) over the arrest of Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

In a statement on Tuesday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on information and strategy, said Ajaero is not above the law in Nigeria.

He dismissed the allegation that the agents of the government violated the rights of the labour leader.

Onanuga said the NLC president was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) because he refused to honour the invitation of a law enforcement agency carrying out an investigation.

BACKGROUND

On Monday, Ajaero was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport in Abuja while he was about to board a flight to the UK.

Benson Ukpa, the NLC spokesperson, said Ajaero was going to the UK at Britain’s TUC invitation.

Upah said Ajaero’s arrest and detention thwarted his plans to “represent Nigerian workers’ interests at a pivotal international labour conference”.

After the labour leader’s arrest, NLC alerted all its affiliates, state councils, and Nigerian workers to remain “vigilant and on high alert”.

The labour union also demanded his “unconditional” release before 12 midnight. But the DSS released the NLC president on Monday night.

TheCable reported that Ajaero was arrested for failing to honour a police invitation over a petition by Air Peace Airlines.

Reacting to the arrest, Omotade Makinwa, Air Peace spokesperson, said the police acted a year after the petition was withdrawn.

Meanwhile, a video clip in which a leader of the UK TUC is condemning the Nigerian government for the arrest of Ajaero has appeared on social media.

The union leader spoke during the TUC 2024 congress in the UK.

UK Trade Union Congress Condemns Nigerian Govt Over ‘Unlawful’ Arrest Of NLC President Joe Ajaero pic.twitter.com/TGtOFckpYT

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— Nigeria Labour Congress HQ (@NLCHeadquarters) September 10, 2024

‘AJAERO SHOULD HAVE HONOURED POLICE INVITATION’

Onanuga said Ajaero should have honoured the police invitation, noting that “there is no adversarial relationship between the labour movement in Nigeria and the government”.

“The Trade Union Congress in the United Kingdom opened its conference today in London, with its leader making false claims about human rights abuses and violations in Nigeria,” the statement reads.

“The Nigerian government was wrongly and falsely accused of rights abuse because the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, was stopped from travelling abroad after he snubbed the invitation of a law enforcement agency conducting an ongoing investigation.

“Clearly, under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), no person is above the summons of law enforcement agencies and lawful investigation.

“Like the United Kingdom and other civilised nations, Nigeria is a country of law governed by the constitution.

“We are not aware that there is anyone in the United Kingdom or anywhere in Europe and the United States, trade union leaders inclusive, who will flagrantly ignore the invitation or summons of MI5 or Scotland Yard or treat the FBI with the level of disdain Mr. Ajaero has subjected law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.

“We, therefore, reject any notion and allusion to human rights violations in Nigeria. The accusations made by the Trade Union Congress in the United Kingdom are, thus, unfounded and based on a misunderstanding of the situation.

“While labour unions and the government may not always agree on policy direction, the government has consistently shown readiness to engage on any issue with labour despite the latter’s political partisanship.

“Contrary to the erroneous impression being created, the invitation extended by the Department of State Services to Mr. Ajaero has nothing to do with his role as the President of NLC.”