Amnesty International (AI) has raised concerns over recent allegations of terrorist financing leveled against, the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero.
In a statement released on Wednesday, August 21, by Mr. Isa Sanusi, Amnesty International's director, the organisation described the allegations as a deliberate attempt to intimidate and silence union leaders.
Sanusi expressed alarm over the alleged persistent efforts to harass and intimidate the NLC by threatening the union leader with arrest.
He urged the relevant government authorities to cease what he described as a pattern of impunity and to uphold the rights of labour unions to freely express their support or opposition to government policies.
The director further explained that freedom of association is guaranteed under international human rights law, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, adding that workers are not obligated to participate in trade union activities.
He alleged that over the past year, Amnesty International has witnessed a growing trend for the Nigerian government efforts to silence the umbrella labour union, by using state institutions to discredit them through any means necessary, saying that this has brought the government's human rights records to reach a new low.
He stated that the Nigerian police raided the NLC headquarters recently and took away documents and books.
Sanusi further emphasized that the freedom of association is enshrined in international human rights law and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights.
He noted that workers are not obligated to participate in trade union activities, and the Nigerian government has a duty to not only respect but also protect the rights of workers from any form of abuse.
The leadership of NLC expressed their dissatisfaction with threats and intimidation they faced during a legitimate strike action in February.
Sanusi explained how the Nigerian government is clearly and unjustly interfering with the functioning of an independent workers union by using baseless accusations to attack its leaders, these accusations are gradually crippling the union's activities.
The organization urged the Nigerian authorities to end the unusual crackdown on leaders of the nation's Nigerian Labour Congress and other labour unions.
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