Nigerian authorities targeting NLC leaders, Amnesty International alleges

Amnesty International Nigeria has raised the alarm over what it describes as a concerted effort by Nigerian authorities to undermine and intimidate the Nigerian Labour Congress and its leadership.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the Country Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, condemned the fresh allegations of terrorism levelled against the NLC and its leaders, calling them a blatant attempt to cripple the union.

“Amnesty International is deeply concerned by the Nigerian authorities’ fresh attempts to further intimidate and harass the Nigerian Labour Congress through threats of arrest of its President Joe Ajaero,” Sanusi said.

He emphasised that the government’s actions are a clear violation of international human rights laws, particularly the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which guarantees the freedom of association. “Workers cannot be targeted for participating in trade union activities,” he added.

Sanusi highlighted that in the past year, there has been an alarming increase in attempts by the Nigerian government to silence the NLC, a pattern he described as a “new low in this government’s human rights records.”

He recounted a series of incidents, including the assault on NLC President Joe Ajaero last November, when he was allegedly beaten and blindfolded by police officers in collaboration with thugs sponsored by the Imo State government.

“No one was held to account for the assault,” Sanusi noted, expressing concern over the impunity surrounding the case.

The Amnesty International Director also criticised a recent raid by the Nigeria Police on the NLC headquarters, during which documents and books were seized. Following the raid, union leaders were forced into hiding due to safety concerns.

He also mentioned the threats and intimidation faced by the NLC leadership over legitimate strike action in February, describing these as clear signs of unlawful interference by the government in the functioning of an independent workers’ union.

“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,” Sanusi stated.

He urged the authorities to “immediately end this bizarre crackdown on leaders of the nation’s labour union,” emphasising that the allegations against the NLC leadership are punitive measures aimed solely at deterring and punishing them for defending workers’ rights.