Lagos, Nigeria – July 17, 2025
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed outrage over the country’s continued poor global rating on workers’ rights, describing it as a “national embarrassment” that must be urgently addressed.
Speaking at the 68th Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) in Lagos on Wednesday, NLC President Joe Ajaero, represented by the union’s Deputy President Adewale Adeyanju, revealed that Nigeria has once again been listed among the 10 worst countries in the world for labour rights violations in the 2025 ITUC Global Rights Index.
“A Stain On Our Conscience”
“This is a stain on our conscience and a legacy none of us should accept. Many of these violations occur within enterprises represented here,” Ajaero said, urging employers to take the lead in reversing the trend.
He called on NECA members to uphold collective bargaining, respect labour laws, and reaffirm the dignity of the workforce, emphasizing that employers and organized labour must work together to ensure compliance with global labour standards.
Collaboration Key To Workplace Reforms
The labour leader also urged deeper collaboration in implementing resolutions from the recent 113th International Labour Conference in Geneva, especially those concerning the platform economy, workplace safety, and technological regulation.
- “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 said.
Ajaero commended NECA’s Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, for fostering dialogue, describing labour and employers as partners, not adversaries.
Push For Standing Committee
Reiterating NLC’s demand for a Standing Committee between NLC and NECA, Ajaero said such a mechanism is essential for continuous dialogue, dispute prevention, and conflict resolution.
“This mechanism is no longer optional; it is the surest path to enduring industrial peace,” he stated.
Warning Against Removing Labour From the Exclusive List
Ajaero warned against moves by some state governors and lawmakers to remove labour issues from the Exclusive Legislative List, describing such efforts as “misguided” and capable of destabilizing industrial relations nationwide.
Broader Concerns: Civic Space, Economic Exclusion
He also raised alarm over shrinking civic space, economic exclusion, and repression, warning that these issues could undermine both business and labour environments.
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“A vibrant civic space is not a luxury—it is the fertile ground in which both businesses and workers flourish,” Ajaero said.
Call For Fairness And Justice
The NLC president concluded with a reminder of the interdependence between businesses and workers:
- “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 declared.
Ajaero congratulated NECA on its 68th AGM, expressing hope that deliberations would pave the way for fairer, safer, and more productive workplaces across Nigeria.
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