Joe Ajaero Speaks Against Crackdown on Labour Leaders, Warns of Rising Authoritarianism Across Africa

Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has issued a strong warning against what he described as a disturbing wave of repression targeting labour leaders across Africa.

Speaking at the 14th Regional Conference of Public Services International for Africa and Arab Countries in Accra, Ajaero condemned the increasing use of state power to silence union voices and dismantle organized labour structures.

He highlighted a pattern of state-sponsored intimidation, including arbitrary arrests, interference in union affairs, and the imposition of government-aligned leadership on workers’ organizations. “The growing reliance on force in labour relations is nothing short of a top-down class war,” Ajaero stated. “We’ve witnessed union offices being seized, leadership manipulated, and governments dictating who represents workers.”

Drawing from recent events in Nigeria, Ajaero pointed to the storming of NLC offices, the detention of union officials, and efforts to install state-preferred figures in key positions. He also referenced the “hijack of labour centres” in Guinea-Bissau as part of a broader trend undermining democratic principles and workers’ rights.

Ajaero linked this crackdown to the broader economic hardship facing workers across the continent. He argued that neoliberal economic policies have intensified poverty, even among those with stable employment. “African workers are trapped in a cruel paradox—working harder, yet sinking deeper into poverty,” he said. “What should be a path to dignity has become a cycle of deprivation.”

He further criticized the deteriorating conditions of work, citing delayed salaries, unsafe job environments, and rising insecurity that endangers frontline public servants like teachers and healthcare workers.

Ajaero’s message was clear: the assault on labour is not just a threat to unions, but to democracy itself. He called for solidarity among workers and urged governments to respect the autonomy of labour institutions and prioritize the welfare of their citizens.