*The Nigerian Government maintains the UK workers’ union has wrongly and falsely accused of human rights abuse over the recent arrest and detention of Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, by the Department of State Services on an ongoing investigation

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

The Federal Government has said Nigeria was wrongly and falsely accused of rights abuse because the Department of State Services (DSS) stopped Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of NLC from travelling overseas.

绿帽献妻 reports Ajaero earlier had been accused of snubbing the invitation of a law enforcement agency conducting an ongoing investigation into allegation of collusion and terrorism financing against the Labour leader.

The Trade Union Congress, in the United Kingdom (UK), Tuesday, September 10, 2024, opened its conference in London, where the Union鈥檚 leader made 鈥渇alse claims about human rights abuses and violations鈥� in Nigeria.

Reacting to the development, the Federal Government Tuesday noted Ajaero, who probably considers himself above the law, was slated to speak at the same conference where the UK TUC leader attacked Nigeria.

Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, in a statement, asserted that the actions of the President of NLC, however, “have serious consequences, as no one is above the law in Nigeria.”

The government said: “Clearly, under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended), no person is above the summons of law enforcement agencies and lawful investigation.聽聽 “Like the United Kingdom and other civilised nations, Nigeria is a country of law governed by the Constitution.”

Onanuga stated: “We are not aware that there is anyone in the United Kingdom, or anywhere in Europe and the United States (US), trade union leaders inclusive, who will flagrantly ignore the invitation or summons of MI5 or Scotland Yard or treat the FBI with the level of disdain Mr Ajaero has subjected law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.”

The Federal Government further noted that in the United States, for example, former President Donald Trump has been the subject of numerous investigations and prosecutions in courts in several states since he left office.

The statement equally noted that Mr. Hunter Biden, son of the President of the United States, has been the subject of a lawful investigation by the FBI.

“We, therefore, reject any notion and allusion to human rights violations in Nigeria.

“The accusations made by the Trade Union Congress in the United Kingdom are, thus, unfounded and based on a misunderstanding of the situation.

“Besides, the Nigerian Government is being led by a pro-democracy activist president, who will do everything to protect civil liberties and the rights of all citizens,” stated the Presidency.

According to the Presidential aide, there is no adversarial relationship between the Labour Movement in Nigeria and the government.

He further explained while Labour unions and the government may not always agree on policy direction, the Nigerian Government “has consistently shown readiness to engage on any issue with labour despite the latter鈥檚 political partisanship.”

Onanuga said: “Contrary to the erroneous impression being created, the invitation extended by the Department of State Services to Mr. Ajaero has nothing to do with his role as the President of NLC.

“As a responsible citizen of Nigeria, Mr Ajaero should honour any invitation from our security agencies and resolve any issues that may arise during the investigation instead of stirring adverse public opinion against the security agencies.”

The government equally asserted: “It is worth reminding Nigerians and the global community that the federal government recognises that the labour movement exists to protect and defend the interests of its members. “What is also worth noting is that Labour, in most cases, only advances ideological positions that fly in the face of economic realities.”

Several ideological stances of the Labour unions in Nigeria in the past had only stunted the economic growth and development of the country, and even compromised the material well-being of the workers and the poor people they protect, the statement explained.

The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy cited a case in point regarding the strong opposition of the NLC and TUC to the sale of Port-Harcourt and Kaduna Refineries to Bluestar Consortium, promoted in 2007 by Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola, during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The government recalled that 17 years after the Labour movement forced the successor administration of late Umar Yar’ Adua to cancel the sale of the two refineries, none of the four government-owned refineries worked.

Onanuga stated that in the obverse, Mr. Aliko Dangote, one of the promoters of Bluestar, has built the largest single-train refinery in the world.

In a twist of fate, the same Labour Movement that fiercely opposed Dangote from taking over the two refineries in 2007 hailed him for completing his 650,000-bpd refinery in Lagos, he recalled.

Onanuga added: “The administration of President Tinubu will continue to promote the best economic interest of Nigerians despite the current challenges.

“It will also continue to pursue policies and programmes that will expand national economic output and create prosperity for our citizens.”

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