Joe Ajaero: NLC has now become an arm of government- Aisha Yesufu alleges

Joe Ajaero: NLC has now become an arm of government- Aisha Yesufu alleges

Prominent rights activist Aisha Yesufu, voiced her concerns on Saturday, asserting that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has essentially become a wing of the government’s executive branch.

Expressing her views in a tweet, Aisha Yesufu responded to the severe treatment that NLC president Joe Ajaero endured during a union protest in Imo on Wednesday. Yesufu contended that the labor union’s primary focus now revolves around advocating for higher minimum wages and no longer addresses issues of governance deficiencies, accountability, transparency, or adherence to the rule of law.

“Nigerians have long recognized the seriousness of the situation. The NLC has essentially aligned itself with the political agenda of the Executive branch, seemingly turning a blind eye to matters of governance, transparency, and the rule of law. They appear to be exclusively preoccupied with pushing for increased minimum wages,” she expressed.

Ms. Yesufu went on to reference a past incident in 2019 when NLC members were assaulted and some sustained serious injuries during a protest at the residence of the then Minister of Labor, Chris Ngige.

She suggested that if the NLC had taken stronger action at that time, they might not find themselves in their current situation, claiming that their actions inadvertently empower the Executive branch.

Earlier reports from PoliticsNow indicated that Joe Ajaero, the leader of the labor union, suffered physical harm when he was apprehended by the Nigerian Police force on Wednesday. As a result of the injuries he sustained during his arrest, Ajaero has reportedly been transported abroad for medical treatment.