NLC takes on government over alleged labour infractions, other grievances in wake of ILC controversy

A recent closed-door meeting took place between the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and top officials of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, where organised labour expressed concerns over alleged labour rights violations, outstanding agreements, and other contentious issues that have put Nigeria under international scrutiny, with Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammadu Dingyadi, and NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in attendance.

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The meeting was convened against the backdrop of the recent International Labour Conference, ILC, in Geneva, Switzerland, where Nigeria faced intense scrutiny over alleged breaches of international labour standards, and is expected to report back to the International Labour Organisation, ILO, by September on measures taken to address concerns raised before the Committee for the Application of Standards, CAS.

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The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Director of Trade Union Services, and the Director of Standards were among the senior government officials who attended the meeting, which was held on Tuesday.

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According to insiders, the alleged interference by government in trade union affairs was a dominant topic of discussion, with organised labour warning that concrete steps would be required before the country’s next engagement with the ILO.

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Organised labour also revisited the question of collective bargaining, expressing concern over the slow implementation of agreements freely entered into between government and workers’ representatives, and reminded the government of several outstanding commitments, including the agreement on a 15 per cent reduction in telecommunications tariffs reached over two years ago.

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The incomplete implementation of the wage award introduced after the removal of fuel subsidy came under fresh scrutiny, with labour leaders expressing dissatisfaction over the continued delay in fully implementing the wage award meant to cushion the economic hardship facing federal workers.

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The implementation of the N70,000 national minimum wage was also discussed, with labour complaining that although the minimum wage has been fully implemented at the federal level, compliance by some state governments remains unsatisfactory, generating concern within organised labour.

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Preliminary discussions were held on the next round of national minimum wage negotiations, with both parties acknowledging the need to begin consultations early, and the meeting also examined internal challenges within the labour movement, including the lingering leadership crisis in the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW.

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Labour representatives linked some of the disputes to perceived undue interference in the affairs of trade unions, an issue they insisted must be addressed in line with international labour conventions, and other matters tabled included the ongoing review of Nigeria’s labour laws and plans to revive the National Labour Advisory Council, NLAC.

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Despite frank and robust discussions, both sides agreed to sustain engagement and deepen cooperation in resolving outstanding labour issues in the interest of industrial harmony and national development, and neither the Ministry of Labour and Employment nor the NLC had issued an official statement on the outcome of the meeting as of the time of filing this report.