NLC, NBA partner on citizen rights

The Nigeria Labour Congress has partnered with the Nigerian Bar Association to promote the rule of law and protect citizen rights.

The Nigeria Labour Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, on Thursday visited the Nigerian Bar Association and was received by the newly elected NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), and his team.

A statement issued by the NLC Head of Information and Public Affairs, Comrade Benson Upah, disclosed that the meeting provided an opportunity for both organisations to exchange views and experiences on the importance of entrenching the rule of law and safeguarding the fundamental rights of Nigerian citizens.

It further stated that discussions focused on how the labour and legal sectors could work together to ensure that democracy thrives and that governance is anchored on justice, fairness, and accountability.

Ajaero reaffirmed the NLC’s commitment to working alongside the NBA in promoting the rights of workers and all Nigerians.

He emphasised, “The importance of a strong legal presence that protects citizens from abuse, ensures the freedom of association, and upholds democratic norms.”

The NLC president also commended the NBA’s role in defending the integrity of the legal system, while expressing optimism that the collaboration would lead to meaningful change in Nigeria’s political and socio-economic landscape.

In his remarks, the NBA president highlighted the association’s determination to uphold the rule of law and strengthen Nigeria’s legal institutions.

He stated the NBA’s readiness to partner with the NLC in advocating for policies that respect citizens’ rights and promote social justice.

Osigwe emphasised the reactivation of the pro bono department of the NBA to ensure that citizens who were indigent and were persecuted could be offered free legal representation at all times.

“Both organisations condemned the criminalisation of civil protests and agreed that the road to sustainable progress for Nigeria lies in ensuring that the principles of the rule of law are adhered to at all levels of governance,” the statement noted.