NLC URGES WORKERS TO RESIST UNFRIENDLY POLICIES 03-04-25
By Sadiq Aminu The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on workers to resist the current harsh economic policies of the government.
The central labour body argued that the increasing penchant for reneging on collective agreements by the government is a cause for concern.
The Congress also noted that the arbitrary increase in telecom tariffs, unjust hikes in electricity tariffs and the refusal to engage in meaningful social dialogue are not just attacks on workers but an affront to the very fabric of the society.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said this in Lagos during the sixth quadrennial delegates conference of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN).
Ajaero called on public office holders to uphold their mandate with integrity and refrain from actions that betray the collective will of the Nigerian people.
He frowned at the staccato nature of the national minimum wage being implemented while alleging that some federal civil servants are experiencing inconsistent salaries with unjustified reductions in their take-home pay.
According to him, the action is not only unjust but also a betrayal of the social contract between the government and the people.
“This is unacceptable, and we must brace ourselves for a struggle to rein in these excesses, and we cannot remain silent,” he said.
Stating that dictatorship in any form was unacceptable, the NLC boss urged political actors within the democratic framework to respect constitutional limits and prioritise the interests of the working class and the masses.
He stressed that it was only through such principled governance that the nation could be steered away from crisis and placed on the path of justice, equality and true democracy.
He accused the government and its agencies of abdicating their regulatory responsibilities, choosing instead to side with the bosses and the forces of capital.
Stating that workers must resist the government’s attempt to tax the Nigerian people to death, he said: “That is why we must continue talking so that the eyes of those who occupy various corridors of power will be open while in office so that they will see that when workers are paid appropriate wages, the economy benefits and the nation grows and not when they leave office. It is our collective responsibility to fight these ills and to ensure that the rights of Nigerian workers are protected.”
The immediate past President General of MWUN, Adewale Adeyanju, said while the union had made significant progress in labour relations, infrastructure, and workers’ welfare, it remains committed to pushing for reforms by engaging with the government and ensuring that members are not left behind in the nation’s development agenda.
He said the union would continue to advocate for fair labour practices, improved infrastructure and policies that support the economic well-being of Nigerian workers.