- The Nigerian government has been accused of planning to cripple the activities and stifle the rights of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) with the threat to arrest its leader, Joe Ajaero.
Amnesty International in a statement issued by its director, Isa Sanusi, said the Nigerian authorities are bent on intimidating t he NLC and its leadership.
The statement by AI Nigeria follows an invitation by the Nigeria Police to Ajaero.
The police in its letter claimed that it was investigating Ajaero’s alleged link to terrorism financing, cybercrime among other crimes.
The invitation from the police was issued from the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police Intelligence Response Team, Department of Force Intelligence.
The police in the letter signed by ACP Adamu Muazu, threatened that Ajaero’s failure to honour the invitation would lead to arrest.
However, in its statement, AI Nigeria said it was concerned about the fresh attempts by the Nigerian authorities to intimidate and harass the NLC and its president.
Calling on FG to end this pattern of brazen impunity and respect the right of the labour unions whether or not they agree or disagree with government and its policies.
Citing the United Nations Charter on Rights of workers, AI said this s is a new low in this government’s human rights records.
Sanusi said, “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.”
He added that the allegations against NLC and its leadership by FG and its security apparatus are just punitive measures aimed solely at deterring and punishing them for standing up for workers’ rights.
