…Issues 7-day notice to FG
The Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), has handed the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum to refund allegedly diverted workers’ funds from the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and immediately constitute the Governing Board of the National Pension Commission, (PENCOM).
In a communiqué issued after its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, the NLC warned that failure to meet these demands would trigger a nationwide strike.
The meeting, chaired by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, reviewed pressing issues affecting Nigerian workers, the trade union movement, and the state of the nation.
The CWC accused the government of neglecting workers’ welfare and undermining pension administration, insisting that the alleged diversion of funds must be addressed without delay.
The union accused the government of seizing 40 percent of funds from the NSITF and channelling them into the national treasury in violation of the laws establishing the NSITF.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero said the deductions—financed by payroll contributions from millions of workers—were meant to provide protection in cases of workplace injury or job loss, not to fund government revenue.
He warned that if the funds were not refunded within a week and the leadership gap at the National Pension Commission was not filled, the NLC would no longer guarantee industrial peace.
In a communiqué issued yesterday, the union described the move as “an assault on workers’ social protection rights” and stressed that pension funds are “deferred wages, not Government revenue.” It also demanded a full account of pension fund assets from PenCom and an immediate constitution of its Governing Board to curb political interference in retirement savings management.
PenCom rejected the allegations of missing funds. Its Head of Corporate Communications, Ibrahim Buwal, said the Contributory Pension Scheme remains safe, with assets consistently growing through regular contributions and profitable investments. “Nobody’s money is missing”, he stated, adding that contributors receive regular statements of their Retirement Savings Accounts.
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) backed the call for a PenCom board, saying the non-constitution of the body violated the Pension Reform Act. “There are only two stakeholders in the pension industry—employers and workers. If they have asked for the Board to be constituted, the president should do the needful”, NECA Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde said.
The NSITF has yet to officially respond to the ultimatum.
Beyond the pension row, the NLC meeting also dissolved the leadership of its Edo State Council over alleged unethical behaviour and anti-union activities, installing a caretaker committee until new elections are held. The union further criticised government policies it said had fuelled inflation, unemployment, hunger, insecurity, and the collapse of public services.
Ajaero also condemned what he called a false claim of ownership by the government over the NLC National Headquarters, warning against alleged moves to amend the NSITF Act to give the state full control of workers’ funds. “This is a direct attack on workers’ rights, hard-earned resources, and the principle of tripartite governance”, he said, vowing to mobilise nationwide resistance if necessary.
