President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigeria Labour Congress Joe Ajaero, has said that no amount of arrests, intimidation, or harassment will stop the labour movement from continuing its fight for workers’ rights and economic justice in Nigeria.
Ajaero made the declaration on Wednesday in Oslo, Norway, while receiving the 2026 Arthur Svensson International Prize, one of the most respected global honours for labour activism.
He accused the Nigerian authorities of using fear tactics, surveillance, arrests and other forms of pressure to weaken organised labour and silence demands for improved welfare and fair working conditions.
The labour leader said he and other union members had endured years of alleged persecution, including detention, repeated interrogations, accusations ranging from cybercrime to treason, and disruption of union activities. Despite this, he insisted the struggle would continue until Nigerian workers are free from poverty and oppression.
Speaking emotionally during his address, Ajaero described himself as a representation of millions of Nigerian workers facing hardship, insisting that many go to work under harsh conditions and return even worse off.
He said the award was not merely symbolic but a call to continued resistance in defence of labour rights, stressing that freedom for workers is not granted but achieved through struggle and solidarity.
In his words, he argued that defending fair wages in Nigeria often attracts state attention and hostility, adding that workers demanding dignity in an oil-rich country are sometimes treated as adversaries.
Ajaero also alleged that he had been repeatedly targeted, including arrests on accusations such as terrorism financing, cybercrime, conspiracy, and treasonable felony, charges he strongly rejected.
He further recounted personal ordeals, including alleged detention, harassment while travelling abroad for union engagements, constant surveillance, and repeated questioning by security agencies. He also referenced an incident in which his residence was destroyed by fire, and claimed union offices had been raided and occupied by security operatives.
According to him, labour offices have been disrupted, picketing activities broken up, and some workers dismissed for demanding better wages amid rising inflation.
Despite these challenges, Ajaero maintained that the labour movement remains strong, saying organised workers still hold significant power because they sustain the economy.
He concluded that attempts to silence labour leaders only strengthen the movement, insisting that for every suppressed voice, many more emerge in solidarity.