The recent actions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in Nigeria have sparked significant international concern, highlighting growing authoritarian tendencies within the country.
A pivotal event that drew global attention was the unlawful arrest of Joe Ajaero, the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), by the Department of State Services (DSS) at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Ajaero’s arrest, which occurred on Monday, was widely condemned at the World Trade Union Congress (TUC) 2024 event in the UK. The incident followed his vocal criticism of the Nigerian government’s decision to raise gasoline prices by 39% and his threat to call a strike if the price increase was not reversed.
The international community, including labour unions and human rights organizations, has denounced this arrest as a gross violation of trade union freedoms. The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) and other labour groups have criticized the Tinubu administration’s aggressive use of security agencies to stifle labour and civil society, marking a dangerous shift towards tyranny. The All Workers Convergence group has also alleged that governance under Tinubu is receding into despotism and dictatorship.
At the World TUC 2024 event, the focus was on the arrest of a key trade union figure, which was seen as a blatant disregard for the rights and freedoms of trade unions. This incident is part of a broader pattern of intimidation and repression aimed at labour and civil society organizations under the Tinubu administration.
The international community has called on the Nigerian government to uphold democratic principles and protect civil liberties and constitutional rights. The condemnation at the World TUC 2024 event underscores the global concern over the erosion of democratic norms and the rise of authoritarianism in Nigeria.
This development comes at a time when President Tinubu’s economic reforms, though radical and potentially transformative for Nigeria’s economy, are being overshadowed by concerns over his administration’s commitment to democratic values and human rights. The international community remains vigilant, urging the Nigerian government to prioritize the protection of civil liberties and the rule of law
