Stop hounding trade unionists, critics, PSI, NASU warn FG
12 September 2024 |
4:06 am
Public Service International (PSI) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have warned the Federal Government against clampdown on trade unions and opposing voices.
Public Service International (PSI) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) have warned the Federal Government against clampdown on trade unions and opposing voices.
Reacting to the invasion, invitation, arrest and subsequent seizure of the Nigerian passport of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, the global federation of more than 700 trade unions, representing 30 million workers in 154 countries, observed that democracy would be endangered in an atmosphere where freedom of expression was denied.
The General Secretary of the body, Daniel Bertossa, condemned the treatment meted out to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero, by the government.
Ajaero, who is also the General Secretary of the PSI-affiliated National Union of Electricity Employees of Nigeria, was arrested on September 9 by the operatives of the Department of State Service, while at the Abuja airport to join a flight to the United Kingdom for a meeting of the Trade Union Congress.
PSI said it was closely monitoring the actions of the government relating to the way it was treating Nigerians who expressed opposition to some of the government policies that could deepen poverty and threatening existing jobs.
“Our message to the Nigerian Government is that our global union movement is closely monitoring the ongoing harassment of Nigerian union leaders and will not accept this sort of intimidation. Arrests of our comrades, such as Joe Ajaero, are damaging Nigeria’s international reputation. We call on the government to respect international labour rights and release all unlawfully imprisoned unionists and members and end this campaign of harassment,” he stated.
In his remarks, the General Secretary, NASU, Peter Adeyemi, said government actions towards labour leaders seemed to suggest a government intolerant of criticism by Nigerians with opposing views.
Adeyemi, who is also the PSI’s Vice President representing Africa and Arab, added: “The arrest of Comrade Ajero is not only an unnecessary witch-hunt but a clear attempt on the part of the Nigerian government to intimidate and harass Nigeria trade unions leaders. Even during the reign of the military, we didn’t witness this level of excessive use of state powers to intimidate and coerce labour leaders.”
He noted that rather than suppress the voice of dissent, the government should redress its anti-people policies towards the emancipation of the downtrodden Nigerian workers.He observed that while Ajaero had now been released on bail, the intimidation of activists and union leaders was causing concern around the world.
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