The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has renewed its demand for justice and fair treatment of workers as the world marks the 2025 Decent Work Day.
NLC President, Mr. Joe Ajaero, said in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday that the commemoration offered an opportunity to call for an end to exploitation and impunity in workplaces across the country.
He stressed that workers’ rights and welfare must never be compromised, urging both government and private employers to uphold the four pillars of decent work — job creation, social protection, rights at work, and social dialogue.
Ajaero lamented that these principles were being undermined by certain government agencies and private employers, warning that such practices threaten Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic diversification.
“No nation can achieve genuine development while repressing workers’ rights and promoting inequality,” he said.
Commenting on the ongoing dispute between the Dangote Group and its employees, Ajaero insisted that no company in Nigeria was above the law or entitled to disregard workers’ rights.
He accused the company of violating employees’ freedom of association and commended the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for defending its members.
The NLC president cautioned against portraying legitimate union activities as acts of sabotage and urged the government to protect workers’ interests rather than side with powerful employers.
He called for stricter enforcement of labour laws and an end to what he described as the “sacred cow syndrome,” stressing that the protection of vulnerable workers must remain a national priority.
