Daud Olatunji
The Federal Government has rejected claims made by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of the United Kingdom regarding alleged human rights abuses in Nigeria, labeling the accusations as unfounded and based on misinformation.
The controversy erupted after the TUC leader in the UK accused Nigeria of rights violations at the opening of its conference in London, citing the recent travel restriction imposed on Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero.
According to a statement from the Nigerian State House, the allegations stemmed from Ajaero’s failure to comply with a lawful invitation from the Department of State Services (DSS), which was conducting an investigation. His refusal to cooperate with the investigation resulted in his being barred from attending the UK conference.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that Ajaero, who was scheduled to speak at the event, was portrayed as flouting Nigerian law, with the government stressing that no individual is above the law.
The government strongly defended its actions, arguing that Nigeria operates under a constitutional framework, similar to that of the United Kingdom and other democratic countries, where law enforcement agencies are tasked with upholding the law without fear or favor.
“No one is above the summons of law enforcement agencies and lawful investigation,” the statement read, comparing the situation to legal actions taken against prominent figures in the United States, such as former President Donald Trump and Hunter Biden.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, highlighted that the travel restriction placed on Ajaero was unrelated to his role as NLC President, asserting that the investigation was focused on other matters.
The federal government dismissed any claims of adversarial relations with the labour movement, emphasizing that it remains committed to protecting civil liberties and the rights of all citizens.
“The accusations made by the UK TUC leader are baseless,” the government said, adding that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has maintained an open channel of communication with Nigerian labour unions, despite occasional disagreements on policy.
Onanuga pointed out that, while the labour movement’s ideological positions often clash with the government’s economic policies, these disagreements have not escalated into rights abuses.
The statement also referenced historical instances where the Nigerian labour unions opposed policies that, in hindsight, were deemed beneficial to the country’s economic growth.
A notable example was the opposition to the sale of the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries to Bluestar Consortium, led by business moguls Aliko Dangote and Femi Otedola, during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
The cancellation of the sale, advocated by the unions, resulted in years of stagnation for the refineries.
Meanwhile, Dangote went on to build the largest single-train refinery in the world, a project now hailed by the same labour leaders.
The federal government reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing economic policies that promote the welfare of Nigerians, urging Ajaero and other leaders to engage constructively with authorities rather than stirring public sentiment against security agencies.
Onanuga reiterated that the current administration, led by a pro-democracy activist, remains committed to promoting policies that foster national prosperity, despite facing significant challenges.
By addressing the claims of human rights abuses head-on, the Nigerian government aims to counter the negative narrative circulating in international labour circles and maintain its image as a law-abiding, democratic nation.
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