The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s continued poor performance on the global stage regarding workers’ rights, revealing that the country has once again been listed among the world’s 10 worst nations for labour rights violations.
Describing the ranking as a “national embarrassment”, the NLC urged employers to take proactive steps in reversing this negative trend.
NLC President Joe Ajaero made the revelation during the 68th Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) held in Lagos on Wednesday. Speaking through the Deputy President of the NLC and former President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Adewale Adeyanju, Ajaero highlighted Nigeria’s position in the 2025 ITUC Global Rights Index as one of the worst violators of workers’ rights worldwide.
“This is a stain on our conscience and a legacy none of us should accept. Many of these violations happen within enterprises represented here,” Ajaero said.
He called on NECA to lead by example by promoting respect for labour laws and upholding collective bargaining principles.
“I urge NECA to uphold collective bargaining, respect labour laws, and reaffirm the dignity of the workforce,” he stressed.
Ajaero also advocated for closer cooperation between employers and organised labour to implement the resolutions from the recent 113th International Labour Conference in Geneva. Such collaboration, he said, is vital for regulating the rapidly expanding platform economy and improving workplace safety.
“Declarations alone are not enough. We must work together to turn these commitments into real protections for workers against the excesses of unregulated technology while harnessing its benefits,” he added.
The NLC leader praised NECA’s Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, for his willingness to engage in dialogue, noting that cooperation between both parties is essential for maintaining industrial peace.
“His openness to genuine engagement reaffirms that we are not adversaries but partners united by a common purpose,” Ajaero said.
He further called on NECA to support the domestic adoption of new International Labour Organisation conventions, including those on Decent Work in the Platform Economy and Biohazards, which aim to strengthen workplace safety and health.
“Let us seize this opportunity to strengthen occupational safety and health governance in Nigeria,” he urged.
Ajaero reiterated the NLC’s call for establishing a standing committee between the NLC and NECA to facilitate continuous dialogue, prevent disputes, and resolve conflicts.
“This mechanism is no longer optional; it is the surest path to lasting industrial peace,” he said.
The labour leader also condemned attempts by some state governors and lawmakers to remove labour matters from the Exclusive Legislative List, warning that such actions could destabilise industrial relations nationwide.
“These misguided efforts reveal a dangerous ignorance of the chaos they would unleash. At times like this, our unity must be our shield,” he cautioned.
Expressing broader concerns, Ajaero highlighted issues such as repression, shrinking civic space, and economic exclusion that undermine the labour environment.
“A vibrant civic space is not a luxury—it is the fertile ground where both businesses and workers thrive,” 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 by reminding employers of the crucial role workers play in sustaining businesses, emphasizing the need for fairness and justice in workplace relations.
“Profit without people is an empty pursuit; progress without justice is a fleeting illusion. The worker you consider redundant is also the consumer who keeps your enterprise alive,” Ajaero said.
Finally, he congratulated NECA on its 68th AGM and expressed hope that the discussions would lead to more productive, fair, and decent workplaces across Nigeria.
