The Executive Director of the Rule of Law Advocacy and Accountability Centre, Okechukwu Nwaguma, has expressed concern over the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, by the Department of State Services, and the takeover of the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project.
He views these actions as alarming for freedom and democracy in Nigeria.
Nwaguma, in a statement on Monday, condemned the actions of the DSS and the police, noting that these developments pose a threat to the pillars of democracy in Nigeria.
He added that the encroachment of security agencies on civil society groups highlights a potential trend toward authoritarianism and called for the release of the NLC President and an end to the siege on the SERAP office.
The statement partly reads, “The arrest of Nigeria Labour Congress President Joe Ajaero by the Department of State Services at the International Airport on his way to attend an official assignment, and the siege on the offices of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project by the police, signal serious concerns for freedom and democracy in Nigeria.
“These developments pose a significant threat to the foundational pillars of democracy in Nigeria, emphasising the need for vigilance and advocacy for the protection of civil liberties. Encroachments by security agencies on civil society highlight a potential trend of increasing authoritarianism, undermining democratic norms and principles.
“Heavy-handed tactics by the DSS can lead to a decline in public trust in government institutions, further alienating citizens from political processes. Continued repression may provoke unrest and resistance among citizens, potentially leading to greater social instability and conflict.
“President Tinubu must demonstrate that he does not endorse arbitrary arrests, detention incommunicado, and the repression of labour and civil society actors. We call for the release of Ajaero and the cessation of the siege on the offices of SERAP.”
Similarly, the National Coordinator of the Take It Back Movement, Juwon Sanyaolu, described both cases as “blatant dictatorship, where the President exercises total control over all institutions, including the judiciary and parliament.”
He alleged that the aim was to stifle the civic space and opposition voices to continue the implementation of policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while calling for the unity of trade unions, civil society, and the media to resist dictatorship and defend the economic interests of the Nigerian people.
“What we are witnessing is a blatant dictatorship, where the President exercises total control over all institutions, including the judiciary and parliament. President Tinubu’s actions are driven by foreign interests, including those of his wealthy allies, and guided by the prescriptions of the IMF and World Bank.”
“The ultimate goal is to stifle civic space and silence opposition voices to pave the way for the continuous implementation of IMF policies that have historically brought poverty and despair to the Nigerian people.
“In this critical moment, we must unite—trade unions, civil society, and the media—to resist this wave of dictatorship and defend the economic interests of the Nigerian people.
We cannot afford to stand by as our democracy is dismantled and our future is mortgaged to serve the interests of a privileged few.”
Also, a former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has condemned the invasion of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project’s Abuja office by operatives of the Department of State Services.
SERAP raised the alarm via its official X handle on Monday, reporting that DSS operatives had taken over its Abuja office.
The organisation called on President Tinubu to immediately direct the DSS to cease the harassment, intimidation, and attacks on Nigerians’ rights.
Reacting to the development in a post on his official X handle, Sani expressed concern over the invasion, stressing that security agencies must respect the fundamental rights of the organisation.
He wrote, “The reported invasion of the SERAP office is concerning. Security agencies must respect the fundamental rights of the organisation, its officials, and its members as guaranteed by the constitution of the country.”
In a related development, Amnesty International has criticised President Bola Tinubu for the ‘unlawful’ invasion of SERAP’s office by operatives of the secret police.
Reacting to the incident, Amnesty International, in a post on X, said the president was going too far in his administration’s efforts to suppress dissenting voices.
The post read, “Amnesty International received a disturbing report of the unlawful invasion of the Abuja office of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project by operatives of the DSS. President Bola Tinubu is going too far in his government’s repressive efforts to silence dissenting voices.”
