Ajaero Is Not Above the Law, FG Tells UK’s TUC
The Nigerian government has firmly rejected accusations made by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the United Kingdom, alleging human rights violations linked to the recent travel restrictions imposed on Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero.
On September 10, when the TUC in London opened its conference, the leaders claimed that Nigeria had unlawfully stopped Ajaero from traveling.
However, in a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, the government denied any wrongdoing and claimed that Ajaero was prevented from traveling due to his failure to respond to a summons from a law enforcement agency.
Ajaero, who likely considers himself above the law, was slated to speak at the same conference where the UK TUC leader attacked Nigeria. His actions, however, have serious consequences, as no one is above the law in Nigeria.
The government compared Ajaero’s situation to how authorities in Western democracies handle similar cases, citing examples of high-profile investigations in the United States.
“In the US, even former President Donald Trump has faced numerous investigations and court cases,” the statement noted, arguing that Ajaero’s actions were an affront to Nigeria’s legal system.
Addressing the broader accusation of human rights abuses, the government stated, “Nigeria is led by a pro-democracy activist president committed to protecting civil liberties.”
It further rejected any adversarial narrative between the labour movement and the government, affirming that while disagreements on policy exist, both parties maintain an open dialogue.
