NLC Slams Nigeria’s Labour Rights Record, Urges Employers to Champion Change

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s continued poor performance in global labour rights rankings, describing it as a national disgrace that demands urgent corrective action.

Speaking at the 68th Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) held in Lagos on Wednesday, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said Nigeria has once again been ranked among the 10 worst countries in the world for workers’ rights violations in the 2025 ITUC Global Rights Index.

Ajaero, who was represented by the NLC Deputy President and immediate past President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Adewale Adeyanju, said:

“This is a stain on our conscience and a legacy none of us should accept. Many of these violations occur within enterprises represented here.”

Describing the ranking as an embarrassment, Ajaero called on NECA and its members to lead efforts in promoting fair labour practices and compliance with existing labour laws.

“I urge NECA to lead by example: uphold collective bargaining, respect labour laws, and reaffirm the dignity of the workforce,” he said.

He also advocated for stronger collaboration between employers and organised labour, especially in implementing key resolutions from the recent 113th International Labour Conference in Geneva. According to Ajaero, joint efforts are critical in addressing challenges posed by emerging trends such as the platform economy and in ensuring improved workplace safety.

“Declarations alone are not enough. We must work side by side to translate these commitments into living realities that protect workers from the excesses of unregulated technology while capturing its benefits,” he stated.

Commending NECA’s Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, for his willingness to engage constructively with labour, Ajaero noted:

“His openness to genuine engagement has reaffirmed the truth that we are not adversaries, but partners bound by common purpose.”

The NLC president also urged NECA to support the domestication of new International Labour Organisation conventions, including the Convention and Recommendation on Decent Work in the Platform Economy, and the Biohazards Convention aimed at improving occupational health and safety.

“Let us seize this moment to fortify occupational safety and health governance in our country,” he said.

Reiterating NLC’s long-standing demand, Ajaero called for the establishment of a Standing Committee between the NLC and NECA to ensure continuous engagement, effective dispute prevention, and conflict resolution mechanisms.

“This mechanism is no longer optional; it is the surest path to enduring industrial peace,” he stressed.

In a strong rebuke to efforts by some state governments and lawmakers to transfer labour matters from the Exclusive Legislative List, Ajaero warned of dire consequences for industrial relations nationwide.

“These misguided attempts reveal a dangerous ignorance of the chaos this would unleash. In moments like this, our unity is our shield,” he cautioned.

Beyond institutional issues, Ajaero also lamented the broader social and political environment impacting workers, citing rising repression, shrinking civic space, and growing economic inequality.

“A vibrant civic space is not a luxury—it is the fertile ground in which both businesses and workers flourish,” he said. “We must act to reclaim Nigeria’s civic space, which is shrinking under the weight of insecurity, repression, and economic exclusion.”

He concluded his address by reminding employers of the indispensable role of workers in sustaining business success and national development.

“Profit without people is an empty pursuit; progress without justice is a fleeting illusion,” Ajaero said. “That worker you consider redundant is also the consumer who keeps your enterprise alive.”

Ajaero congratulated NECA on its milestone 68th AGM and expressed hope that the dialogue would foster more inclusive, fair, and progressive workplaces across the country.