The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to embark on a nationwide mass action over what it described as the worsening cost-of-living crisis, escalating insecurity, and what it termed a deliberate assault on workers’ rights across the country.
Rising from its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held over the weekend at the 12th June Cultural Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the NLC said that the hardship faced by Nigerian workers and millions of ordinary citizens has reached intolerable levels, warning that urgent measures must be taken to prevent a social and economic collapse.
The labour body declared that Nigerian workers will no longer sit idly by while the nation’s economy deteriorates and democratic institutions come under threat.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the NLC leadership accused the Federal Government of failing to address the root causes of widespread poverty, skyrocketing inflation, and worsening insecurity that have made life unbearable for the majority of Nigerians.
Recall that since the removal of fuel subsidy in May 2023, the cost of petrol and other commodities has more than tripled, pushing millions into deeper poverty. The recent hike in electricity tariffs and continued depreciation of the naira have further compounded the economic squeeze on households, while wage adjustments have remained stagnant despite repeated promises by the government to implement a new minimum wage.
In addition to economic hardship, the NLC pointed to the alarming state of insecurity, including rampant kidnappings, banditry, and attacks on communities, which have disrupted economic activities and exposed workers and their families to constant danger.
The Congress also raised concerns over what it described as a systematic clampdown on labour rights, citing recent moves by some lawmakers to transfer labour matters from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List—a move the union believes could undermine national standards on workers’ welfare and allow states to pay substandard wages.
The NLC warned that unless the government immediately addresses these pressing issues through concrete actions, including genuine dialogue with labour unions, implementation of a living wage, and improved security architecture, Nigerian workers would be left with no option but to shut down the country through coordinated mass protests and industrial actions.
Labour leaders further urged Nigerians to stand in solidarity, stressing that defending workers’ rights is central to protecting democracy and national stability.
The threat of mass action comes just weeks after similar warnings from the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and other civil society organisations, signaling a brewing wave of industrial unrest if the government fails to act decisively in the coming weeks.
