FG rejects UK Trade Union Congress’s allegation of human rights abuse

The Trade Union Congress (TUC) of the United Kingdom has accused Nigeria of violating and abusing human rights; the Federal Government has rejected this claim, saying it is baseless and stems from an incorrect grasp of the facts.

The administration stressed that no one is above the law in Nigeria in a statement released by Special Advisor to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The declaration was a reaction to allegations made by the TUC at its convention in London, when it was wrongly claimed that the Nigerian government had violated human rights.

The government said that Joe Ajaero, the president of the NLC, was prohibited from leaving the country after he turned down an invitation from a law enforcement organization that was carrying out an ongoing investigation. The repercussions of Ajaero’s actions are severe because no one is above the law in.

The statement highlighted that Nigeria is a country governed by the Constitution, just like the United Kingdom and other civilized nations. It cited examples of former President Donald Trump and Hunter Biden being subject to investigations and prosecutions in the United States, demonstrating that no one is above the law.

The government rejected any notion of human rights violations in Nigeria, stating that the accusations made by the TUC are unfounded and based on a misunderstanding of the situation. It emphasized that the President is a pro-democracy activist who will protect civil liberties and the rights of all citizens.

The statement also noted that there is no adversarial relationship between the Labour Movement in Nigeria and the government, and that the government has consistently shown readiness to engage with labour on any issue despite political partisanship.

Additionally, the government highlighted that labour unions’ ideological positions have often stunted economic growth and development in Nigeria, compromising the well-being of workers and the poor. It cited the example of the opposition to the sale of Port-Harcourt and Kaduna Refineries in 2007, which led to the refineries not functioning, while Aliko Dangote built the largest single-train refinery in the world.

The administration of President Tinubu will continue to promote the best economic interest of Nigerians, pursue policies and programs that expand national economic output, and create prosperity for citizens.