Looming strike: Labour, security agencies in deadlock over Ajaero’s arrest, ‘harassments’

A nationwide industrial action seems imminent if the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, is not released from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) by midnight yesterday.

The industrial action is likely to further strain many Nigerians who have been agitated about the rising cost of living occasioned by the hike in the price of petrol.

The Congress has already placed its affiliates, state councils, civil society allies, and the Nigerian populace on red alert, vowing it would not stand by while its rights to organise, protest, and freely express itself are trampled upon.

This ultimatum came after an emergency meeting convened by the National Administrative Council (NAC) of the NLC, led by Deputy President Adewale Adeyanju.

The meeting sought to address what it described as the unlawful arrest and detention of Ajaero at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

Ajaero had been en route to the United Kingdom, where he was scheduled to attend and address Britain’s Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The NAC insisted that Ajaero is not a fugitive or a criminal and that his detention is an act of intimidation aimed at silencing dissent and stifling the labour movement’s voice in Nigeria.

There are reports that Ajaero and the Secretary-General, Emmanuel Ugboaja will be questioned by the Nigeria Police Force on September 30, 2024.

Human rights lawyer and counsel for the NLC, Femi Falana, SAN, was quoted to have stated that Ajaero and Ugboaja were not re-invited by the police as regards terrorism financing as reported by some media outlets.

Also, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) said it stands in solidarity with the NLC and reaffirmed its commitment to defending the rights and dignity of Nigerian workers, even as it warned that the arrest sets a dangerous precedence for the labour movement in the country.

In a statement, TUC President Festus Osifo also demanded the labour leader’s immediate release.

He said, “The TUC received with grave concern the news of the arrest of the President of the NLC earlier today (yesterday). This unjust action represents a clear violation of the rights to freedom of association and expression, which are fundamental pillars of any democratic society.

“Congress firmly condemns the arrest and calls for his immediate and unconditional release. This arrest sets a dangerous precedence that threatens not only the leadership of the Nigerian labour movement but also the voices of millions of working-class Nigerians who rely on unions to represent and protect their interests.

“It is imperative that the government respects the rule of law, democratic norms, and the legitimate rights of workers and their representatives. The labour movement has always stood for peaceful negotiations.

“We, therefore, urge the Nigerian government to prioritise dialogue and reconciliation over harassment. We stand in solidarity with the NLC and reaffirm our commitment to defending the rights and dignity of Nigerian workers.”

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) called on its members to be alerted for further directives if Ajaero, the union’s General Secretary, is not released by midnight today.

Its acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, asked why the government was witch-hunting and trying to silence those who spoke out to protest their deplorable state of living and economic hardship.

Noting that Ajaero represents Nigerian workers and the common man on the street, Igwebike said the government’s act signifies trampling on the masses.

“Nigeria is our collective country, our leaders should not make us live like slaves that cannot express themselves in our country,” he said.

Preliminary information suggests that Ajaero was transferred to the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) office.

This incident followed recent tension between Ajaero and security agencies.

On August 20, he responded to an invitation from the Police Force’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) after a summons issued on August 19 threatened his arrest for non-compliance.

Through his legal representative, Femi Falana (SAN), Ajaero communicated his inability to attend on the specified date, promising to appear on August 29 to address allegations including criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, and treasonable felony.

Ajaero, accompanied by Falana and labour representatives, attended the Force Headquarters as promised.

However, less than a day later, the police issued another summons for Ajaero and NLC General Secretary Emma Ugboaja to appear at the Force Headquarters on September 5.

DSS hinted it would go covert in public speaking last week. However, the agency’s operational phone number (09153391310) was called. The officer who picked up the call urged this reporter to call back in 15 minutes for confirmation.

Reacting, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cautioned the Federal Government against indiscriminate arrests, a development it said could worsen the tension in the country.

Although the party said it was still studying the issues that warranted the arrest of the NLC President, it urged the government to be more sensitive to matters of public welfare.

“We will, as a party, find out more, since this is a breaking story, and take it from there. Indeed, if the government is about welfare and the people are saying we are dying, it is sane to review those policies,” the party said.

At a press conference in Abuja, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP spokesman, said: “There is a need for caution. There was a protest in this country; the government did nothing. You arrest some people and say they were terrorists and charge them in court. You say some people were the sponsors of the protest. This is dangerous.”

He said, “We know those who sponsored the protest. The sponsor is hunger. The President and his people should arrest hunger, and there will be no problem. Let your draconian policies, which are bringing people to their knees, be reviewed. This is the season schools are resuming; we know what all of us who have pupils in school are going through.”

The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) wondered why Ajaero is “being hounded and treated in an uncivil manner by the Nigerian state and its security agencies, agents, and officials” and called for his unconditional release.

General Secretary of ITUC-Africa, Joel Odigie, said, “The unjustified restriction and detention carried out without any legal warrants are nothing short of brazen acts of lawlessness and intimidation designed to silence dissenting voices at a time when Nigerian workers, people, households and communities are suffering under the crushing weight of the government’s failed economic policies.”

He noted that the seizure of Ajaero’s travel documents directly affronted the core principles of democracy, the rule of law and human rights, adding, “It is alarming that efforts to ascertain his whereabouts and state of health have been met with silence from the authorities.”

“Therefore, ITUC-Africa calls on the Nigerian government to immediately release
Comrade Joe Ajaero unconditionally and with full apology and compensation. The Nigerian government must guarantee the physical integrity of Joe Ajaero and cease further harassment of Comrade Joe Ajaero and the other trade union leaders.”

Also, the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, said that the arrest of the NLC President was a new record of impunity, which shows an escalating crackdown on human rights and restrictions on civic space by the government of President Bola Tinubu.

He said Tinubu was setting a new record of utter disregard for the rule of law, stating that the persistent attacks, fabricated allegations, raids on NLC headquarters, and other forms of harassment and intimidation must stop.

He said the growing culture of impunity and disdain for workers’ rights to organise and seek better welfare must stop.

“Joe Ajaero was arrested solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights and must be immediately and unconditionally released,” he said.

Also, the spokesperson for the United Action Front of Civil Society, Hamisu Santuraki, said the DSS’ arrest of Ajaero was an attempt to cause national anarchy.

He said the abduction was brash and indecent on the part of Nigerian security operatives and should be condemned by all Nigerians.

“We wish to unequivocally condemn this needless rascality employed by the DSS today against the President of the NLC which has already generated shockwaves through the length and breadth of the country and may lead to mass resistance and civil disobedience in the country if Ajaero is not released immediately by the State,” he said.

National Coordinator of the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Emmanuel Onwubiko, condemned the ‘arbitrary and illegal’ arrest and detention of the NLC President.

He said: “HURIWA is asking the current administration to play the game of governance by the rules and the grundnorm and end the regime of arbitrariness, illegal detentions and unconstitutional harassment of media practices, rights activists and trade union figures such as the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress Comrade Joe Ajaero by armed goons who are directly under the command and control of the President and the Commander-in-chief of the armed forces.”

A security analyst, Chukwukasi Oji, condemned Ajaero’s detention, saying, “Why would the DSS arrest? This government has run mad. It is becoming more draconian and authoritarian than the military. I thought this was a democratically elected government, but it behaves like it came to power through force. The way the government is operating, it seems President Bola Tinubu is not thinking about ending his tenure well, not to talk of coming a second time. This government is playing with fire. Arresting the NLC president is like touching the tiger’s tail.”

MEANWHILE, the DSS yesterday invaded the 18 Bamako Street Wuse Zone 1, Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), leaving a trail of condemnation against the alleged excesses of the President Bola Tinubu administration.

In a statement, Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and human rights lawyer described the invasion as unlawful and an abuse of power.

He urged the Federal Government to prosecute whoever was responsible for the invasion.

He said, “I condemn the invasion of SERAP’s office. The Tinubu government must urgently fish out the officers who invaded SERAP’s office in the name of the government.

“Anyone found to be responsible for the invasion must be prosecuted. The government must allow human rights defenders to freely carry out their work, consistent with the Nigerian Constitution.”

SERAP condemned the invasion and urged the Tinubu administration to immediately direct the agency to end intimidation and harassment of the rights group and its staff members.

It warned: “If the Tinubu government does not take all necessary measures to immediately end the intimidation and harassment of SERAP or any other civil society group for that matter, SERAP will take appropriate legal action nationally and internationally to challenge the brutal crackdown and hold the authorities to account for their constitutional and international human rights obligations.”

The group demanded an investigation into the invasion and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.

SERAP said: “The invasion of our office by the DSS and the harassment and intimidation of our staff members is a brutal assault on the entire human rights community in the country.

“The escalating crackdown on human rights, and harassment and intimidation of NGOs and human rights defenders that have shown astonishing courage in their human rights work hurt those most in need, undermine access of Nigerian victims of human rights violations and abuses to justice, and contribute to a culture of impunity of perpetrators.

“This government has an obligation to support and protect civil society groups and human rights defenders.

“We are seriously concerned about the growing restrictions on civic space and the brutal crackdown on the human rights of Nigerians.”

Amnesty International criticised President Bola Tinubu over the invasion of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) office by Department of State Services (DSS) operatives.

In a post on X, Amnesty International said the President was going too far in his administration’s efforts to suppress dissenting voices.

The post reads, “Amnesty International received a disturbing report of the unlawful invasion of the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project by operatives of the DSS. President Bola Tinubu is going too far in his government’s repressive efforts to silence dissenting voices.”

It states: “The government of President Bola Tinubu should immediately instruct the DSS to stop their harassment and intimidation of SERAP and any other civil society groups in Nigeria simply for carrying out their legitimate work.

“Nigerian authorities must end their escalating crackdown on civic space and independent human rights groups in the country, including through harassment, intimidation, and threats.

“The invasion of SERAP’s office by the DSS sends a chilling signal and prevents human rights organisations from carrying out their essential work to promote and protect human rights and accountability in the country.

“Nigerian authorities must uphold their constitutional and international human rights obligations, including respect to the rights to freedom of expression and association and end the growing impunity for human rights violations in the country.

“The invasion shows that Nigerian authorities are prepared to go to extreme lengths to stifle independent scrutiny and criticism in clear violation of constitutional guarantees. This must stop.

“Nigeria’s international and regional partners should press the authorities to uphold the human rights of those who defend the rights of others, journalists and civil society groups in the country.”

RELATEDLY, Air Peace Airline expressed deep concern over recent media reports regarding the arrest of Ajaero in connection with a petition filed by the airline in September 2023.

The airline clarified that Ajaero’s arrest by the DSS was related to a petition submitted against the NLC to the Nigerian Police on May 3, 2023, when the NLC disrupted Air Peace operations during a broader dispute with the Imo State government.

Air Peace spokesperson, Omotade Makinwa, stated that despite repeated attempts to follow up on the petition, the police failed to take prompt action.

“Over a year later, the Nigerian Police have chosen to act on the original petition, which has now led to the alleged arrest of the NLC president,” he said.

Makinwa emphasised that Air Peace and the NLC had reached an amicable resolution before the arrest, and the airline had withdrawn its petition, allowing for a positive working relationship to resume.

He said the negative publicity surrounding the arrest does not reflect the current relationship between the two organisations.

“It is important to clarify the events leading up to the petition,” Makinwa explained. “On May 3, 2023, the NLC disrupted Air Peace operations as part of a broader conflict with the Imo State government. Although Air Peace had no involvement in the dispute, our airline was unfortunately used as a tool to exert pressure on the government. This unlawful disruption of our services caused significant financial losses and impacted the travel plans of many Nigerians across multiple states.

“In response to this disruption, Air Peace’s legal team submitted a formal petition against the NLC to the Nigerian Police. Despite our repeated efforts to follow up on the petition, the Police failed to take prompt action,” he added.