Ajaero, who has led the NLC since 2023 and previously served as General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), was honoured for decades of labour activism carried out under difficult and often dangerous conditions.
The award highlights his role in advancing labour rights despite persistent threats, including harassment by security agencies, alleged assassination attempts, and detention during the military rule of Sani Abacha in the 1990s. In recent years, he has reportedly faced further intimidation, including attacks on his residence, abduction, and legal challenges.
Under his leadership, the NLC has taken on government policies considered unfavourable to workers, pushed back against restrictions on civic space, and confronted corporate practices by major firms such as the Dangote Group. He has also been active in defending workers in vulnerable sectors, particularly the electricity industry.
Beyond Nigeria, Ajaero has contributed to international labour advocacy, including participation in global discussions such as the 2025 launch of the ITUC Global Rights Index in Geneva, where he spoke on the state of workers’ rights in Nigeria.
His tenure has also seen the NLC secure a national minimum wage agreement, while continuing to push for broader dialogue on economic hardship, taxation, insecurity, and governance issues affecting workers.
The Arthur Svensson Prize recognises individuals who demonstrate exceptional courage and commitment to trade unionism, with Ajaero’s selection underscoring his influence in strengthening labour movements and drawing global attention to workers’ rights challenges in Nigeria.