While Ajaero has since been released on bail, the increased efforts to intimidate union leaders have sparked international concern.
Public Services International (PSI) has condemned the arrest of Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress and General Secretary of the PSI-affiliated National Union of Electricity Employees of Nigeria.
Ajaero was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) on Monday, September 9, while attempting to travel to the United Kingdom to meet with Trade Union Congress colleagues.
PSI General Secretary Daniel Bertossa, in a statement on Tuesday, 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."
PSI Vice President for Africa and Arab regions, Comrade Peters Adeyemi, also criticised the arrest, stating, "The arrest of Comrade Ajaero 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."
While Ajaero has since been released on bail, the increased efforts to intimidate union leaders have sparked international concern.
The NLC leadership described the detention as "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 travelling but also sequestering his freedom is an affront to our democratic and natural rights as a people and as workers."
PSI called on workers worldwide to stand in solidarity against attacks on trade unions and their leaders. The organisation urged governments to focus on improving public services and working conditions rather than targeting unionists.
PSI and the African Regional Organization of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) also expressed readiness to raise the issue with international bodies, including the International Labour Organization.
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