The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for an independent investigation into the recent fire at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Afriland building in Lagos and other recurring market infernos in the state, insisting that no worker should die from preventable workplace disasters.
In a statement signed by its Acting President, Prince Adewale Adeyanju, on Thursday in Abuja, the congress decried the loss of lives and livelihoods in the 16 September UBA fire, which claimed at least six lives and left several others injured and hospitalised.
“Our grief is deepened by the painful memory of another fire that consumed shops and warehouses in the same area, destroying goods worth billions of naira and the livelihoods of countless workers,” the NLC said.
The organisation described as heartbreaking the sight of workers leaping from windows to escape the blaze, questioning why safety measures were not in place.
“Were there safety precautions in the building design? Were workers trained? Where were crisis management teams?” it asked.
The congress attributed the tragedies to systemic rot, institutional negligence, and disregard for safety regulations, warning that such lapses expose citizens and workers to needless deaths and losses.
It also lamented the frequency of market fires in Lagos, describing them as an “annual ritual” that authorities have consistently failed to curb despite repeated tragedies.
“No worker should leave home for work and end up in the morgue because of preventable disasters. The blood of the workers cries out for justice,” the statement added.
The NLC demanded a comprehensive investigation into the Lagos fires, compensation for victims, strict enforcement of safety standards, and adequate funding for emergency response services. It also urged Nigerians to resist the normalisation of recurring tragedies and to insist on institutions that prioritise safety and the protection of lives.
