The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to prioritise employment creation, tackle insecurity, and address rising inflation across the country, adding that an urgent dialogue has become necessary.
TUC President, Mr. Festus Osifo, made the call on Friday in Abuja during the first Quadrennial Delegates Conference and the 20th Anniversary of the congress. The event was themed: “The Future of Work – Ensuring Fair Labour Practices and Economic Justice in a Digital Era.”
Osifo noted that the nation’s economic challenges had taken a significant toll on Nigerian workers, linking the spike in food prices to persistent insecurity in states such as Plateau, Benue, and Borno.
“Farmers want to preserve their lives. When they go to their farms, they face serious threats. As a result, many are staying away,” he said.
He also warned that the growing population of unemployed youths was fuelling insecurity.
“We have many young Nigerians who are unemployed and vulnerable to recruitment into criminal activities. If they have no jobs, they may resort to dangerous alternatives. We call on the government to initiate a roundtable dialogue to develop strategic solutions,” he said.
Osifo further raised concern over the alarming number of out-of-school children in the country and called on all tiers of government to take urgent action to improve access to education.
“We cannot have a country where between 20 to 40 million children are out of school. This is unacceptable,” he added.
On the issue of decent work, Osifo condemned the casualisation of workers by employers who offer contracts ranging from two to six months.
He urged the government to promote decent employment practices that guarantee job security and dignity for workers.
Also speaking at the event, Ms Vanessa Phala, Country Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) for Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone, commended the TUC for its efforts in advocating for workers’ rights.
“We acknowledge the efforts you have made to improve the lives of Nigerian workers. However, the road ahead will be even tougher given the current national challenges,” Phala said.
She assured the TUC of the ILO’s continued support and encouraged both the government and labour unions to embrace social dialogue in resolving industrial issues.
