The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the arrest of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, and demanded an immediate end to the arbitrary detentions of activists and trade unionists by the government. HURIWA urged President Bola Tinubu to respect the rule of law and stop using security forces to intimidate those advocating for the rights of workers and the oppressed.
In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA condemned the actions of security operatives, particularly the Department of State Services (DSS), accusing them of targeting key figures like Ajaero due to his refusal to conform to the administration’s economic policies.
“Trade unionism and human rights activism are not crimes. The arbitrary arrest and harassment of Comrade Ajaero are a direct assault on democracy and the freedoms guaranteed by the Nigerian Constitution,” Onwubiko stated.
Ajaero was reportedly arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while on his way to the UK for the Trade Union Congress conference. HURIWA described the arrest as part of a larger campaign against the NLC, which has criticized the government’s austerity measures that have led to mass unemployment, inflation, and corruption.
“This administration must stop the coordinated attacks on the NLC, human rights activists, and media practitioners. These actions threaten to destroy Nigeria’s democratic foundations and are reminiscent of dictatorial regimes,” HURIWA warned.
The NLC has also confirmed Ajaero’s arrest, denouncing it as an intimidation tactic aimed at silencing Nigerian workers. In response, HURIWA called on international leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, to intervene and pressure the Nigerian government to uphold democratic standards.
The association further urged civil society groups to stand in solidarity with the NLC and fight against what it described as “trumped-up charges” against Ajaero.
“The government must understand that human rights and trade union activism are essential to a healthy democracy, not criminal offenses,” Onwubiko concluded.
