On 9th September Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress and General Secretary of PSI-affiliated National Union of Electricity Employees of Nigeria, was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Service while on his way to the airport to meet with Trade Union Congress colleagues in the United Kingdom. 

PSI General Secretary Daniel Bertossa said “Our message to the Nigerian Government is that our global union movement is closely monitoring the ongoing harassment of Nigerian union leaders and will not accept this sort of intimidation. Arrests of our comrades such as Joe Ajaero are damaging Nigeria’s international reputation. We call on the Government to respect international labour rights and release all unlawfully imprisoned unionists and members and end this campaign of harassment.” 

While Ajaero has now been released on bail, the ramping up of intimidation efforts against activists and union leaders is causing concern around the world. In a statement, the leadership of the NLC said, “His detention is a brazen act of intimidation and completely unjustified under the laws of our nation. The mere contemplation of not just stopping a lawful citizen from traveling but also sequestering his freedom is an affront to our democratic and natural rights as a people and as workers”. 

PSI’s Vice President representing Africa and Arab, Comrade Peters Adeyemi, who is also the General Secretary of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), said, “the arrest of Comrade Ajero is not only an unnecessary witch-hunt but a clear attempt on the part of the Nigerian government to intimidate and harass Nigeria trade unions leaders. Even during the reign of the military, we didn’t witness this level of excessive use of state powers to intimidate and coerce labour leaders. Rather than suppress the voice of dissent, government should positively redress its anti peoples policies towards the emancipation of the downtrodden Nigeria workers. "

PSI calls on the working people of Nigeria, Africa and the world to stand in solidarity against all forms of authoritarian regimes, attacks on trade unions and their leaders, and the citizenry. Instead of harassing civil society leaders and unionists, governments should be focused on serving the people by providing quality public services, good working conditions, and an economy where everyone thrives. 

The global leadership of Public Services International (PSI) join hands with leaders in Africa and Arab Country region, and the African Regional Organization of the International Trade Union Confederation ITUC-Africa, in condemning persistent harassment of union leaders and is ready to raise this issue with international institutions including the International Labour Organization