UK Trade Union Berates FG Over Ajaero’s Arrest
•Says Arrest Violation Of Fundamental Trade Union Freedom
•Ajaero Not Above Law, Must Answer To Security Agencies – FG
The leadership of the United Kingdom Trade Union Congress has betared Nigerian government over the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero.
Osun Defender reports that Ajaero was arrested by operatives of the
Department of State Services on Monday morning at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, while on his way to the United Kingdom for an official engagement.
He was later released some minutes to 12a.m on administrative bail.
Reacting to the development, the UK Trade Union demanded that the prosecution of Ajaero by the federal government must stop.
“Joe was released last night, bit it is clear that his hurdle is not yet over. This unlawful arrest is a gross violation of fundamental trade unions freedom and in arresting him on his way to speak to us, we must all show solidarity.
https://x.com/NLCHeadquarters/status/1833584747387482481
“Nigeria’s trade unions still have our solidarity. We condemned the actions of the Nigerian government and demand that they end their prosecution of Joe Ajaero,” the UK Trade Union Congress said.
But reacting, the federal government accused the
Trade Union Congress in the United Kingdom of making false claims about human rights abuses and violations in Nigeria.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga in a statement on Tuesday evening, said 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.
READ ALSO
DSS Bows To Pressure, Releases Ajaero
Ajaero: Tinubu Lawless, Silencing Opposition – NLC
Onanuga said Ajaero is not above the law and must be ready for prosecution and investigation if need be.
“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.
“Besides, the Nigerian Government is being led by a pro-democracy activist president who will do everything to protect civil liberties and the rights of all citizens,” he said.
