The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised serious concerns after Nigeria was again ranked among the 10 worst countries in the world for labour rights violations.
Speaking at the 68th Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) in Lagos, NLC President Joe Ajaero described the development as a “national embarrassment.” He was represented by his deputy and former Maritime Workers Union leader, Adewale Adeyanju.
According to Ajaero, the 2025 ITUC Global Rights Index revealed that Nigeria is one of the worst violators of workers’ rights globally—a trend he said must be urgently reversed.
“This is a stain on our conscience and a legacy none of us should accept. Many of these violations occur within enterprises represented here,” he said.
The labour leader called on employers under NECA to take the lead in promoting respect for labour laws and encouraging collective bargaining.
“I urge NECA to lead by example: uphold collective bargaining, respect labour laws, and reaffirm the dignity of the workforce,” he added.
Ajaero also emphasized the need for employers and organised labour to work closely together to implement outcomes from the recent International Labour Conference held in Geneva. He noted that such collaboration was vital, especially with the rise of the platform economy and growing workplace safety concerns.
“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 praised NECA’s Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, for his willingness to engage in dialogue, stating that cooperation between employers and workers is key to lasting peace in the workplace.
In his words:
“We are not adversaries but partners bound by common purpose.”
Ajaero also urged NECA to join efforts to domesticate new International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions—especially the Convention on Decent Work in the Platform Economy and the Biohazards Convention aimed at improving workplace safety and health.
He further called for the creation of a Standing Committee between the NLC and NECA to ensure constant dialogue, conflict prevention, and effective dispute resolution.
“This mechanism is no longer optional; it is the surest path to enduring industrial peace,” he noted.
The NLC president did not hold back criticism against moves by some state governors and lawmakers to remove labour matters from the Exclusive Legislative List, warning that it would only lead to chaos and weaken industrial harmony.
“These misguided attempts reveal a dangerous ignorance of the chaos this would unleash,” he warned.
Beyond workplace issues, Ajaero raised alarm over growing social repression, economic exclusion, and a shrinking civic space in Nigeria, saying these factors are hurting both businesses and workers.
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“A vibrant civic space is not a luxury—it is the fertile ground in which both businesses and workers flourish.”
In his closing remarks, Ajaero reminded employers of the vital role workers play in building sustainable businesses:
“Profit without people is an empty pursuit; progress without justice is a fleeting illusion. That worker you consider redundant is also the consumer who keeps your enterprise alive.”
He congratulated NECA on its 68th AGM and expressed hope that the outcomes would foster a better, fairer, and more productive work environment in Nigeria.
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