The Nigeria Labour Congress, or NLC, has come under fire for a number of policies that Nigerians still find unfavorable.
According to reports, the NLC, which was formerly renowned for its powerful force and ability to hold the public and private sectors accountable, has recently lost its clout as a result of a string of “empty” threats that have failed to produce any tangible outcomes.
The NLC, which was highly respected during the time of Pa Michael Imoudu, Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu, Alhaji Ali Ciroma, and Adams Oshiomhole, is considered dead by some Nigerians.
Prior to Joe Ajaero’s tenure as NLC National President, the congress was well-known for being a strong middle-class advocate who made sure that lawmakers respected the rights and welfare of all citizens, especially Nigerian workers.
But NLC is no longer a respectable name.
It has been noted that the NLC has lost its influence and assertiveness in forming national policies, particularly in recent years. This has allowed governments at all levels to decide on significant national issues, such as the welfare of workers, on their own without facing stiff opposition from Congress.
The once-dominant NLC has recently been under fire for allegedly being embroiled in political concessions and leaving workers needlessly vulnerable, particularly after the current administration took office in May 2023.
Fuel subsidy removal
Many Nigerians believe that the NLC’s vulnerability was made clear soon after President Bola Tinubu discontinued the fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023.
Remember how the largest labor union in Nigeria announced a statewide strike to pressure the government to change its mind about eliminating fuel subsidies?
The NLC’s national executive council gathered in Abuja a few days after Tinubu announced the elimination of the subsidy, which caused the price of fuel to jump and the cost of living to become intolerable. At that meeting, they launched an indefinite nationwide strike.
The Labour movement halted its intentions to down tools less than twenty-four hours before the planned statewide strike.
According to the labour leaders, the decision was taken after an expanded meeting with the Federal Government, where the parties agreed to continue to dialogue on the implementation of demands made by NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC.
In order to mitigate the effects of the elimination of subsidies, the government was urged to develop strategies, one of which was to revive the CNG conversion program.
According to reports, despite the NLC’s failure to take any profitable action, the hardship caused by the termination of subsidies over two years ago has significantly risen.
The bulk of Nigerian workers have not yet received the compressed natural gas, or CNG, buses that the government promised to facilitate transportation inside the cities.
Electricity tariff hike
Anger was sparked nationwide in July 2024 when the power distribution firms, or DisCos, announced an increase in electricity rates.
In a statement headed “Stop killing the people and the economy,” NLC President Joe Ajaero claimed that the raise for “the so-called band A” customers is the height of impunity and hubris.
According to Ajaero, the 25% increase infuriated both organized labor and the general public.
Following a one-day demonstration, the NLC gave in. According to Ajaero, the action was put on hold since the National Assembly and other key parties firmly promised that the issue would be handled in a private manner.
It was reported that the tariff was, however, implemented amid grave silence from the labour union.
Telecom tariff hike
When the Nigerian Communications Commission, or NCC, authorized a 50% hike in telecom rates for Nigerian operators in January of this year, it was additional evidence of NLC’s waning power.
In its customary remarks, NLC categorically denounced the raise and without hesitation promised to engage in combat with the cellular industry.
If the federal government does not reverse the decision, the labor union has threatened to use protests to shut down the nation’s economy.
However, the union canceled the planned march on February 4, 2025, following a meeting with government representatives at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Multichoice: DStv, Gotv subscription hike
NLC threatened to overturn Multichoice Nigeria’s recent rise in DStv and GOtv subscription fees, giving the impression that a confrontation was imminent.
However, in spite of everything, the well-known cable television service provider in Nigeria went forward with its uncontested decision, revealing the NLC’s incapacity to support its claims with firm action.
The NLC has not commented on the company’s announcement of yet another increase in subscription fees, which was made a few days ago.
Some Nigerians, who spoke with newsmen, expressed dissatisfaction in the Congress.
According to Joseph Ojobo, an on-air personality in Abuja, Nigeria’s days of powerful labor unions are over.
In his opinion, “There is nothing like a labour union in Nigeria right now. They are all about their selfish interests.
“When NLC was NLC, all this nonsense won’t happen. I remember in 2012 when former president Goodluck Jonathan removed the fuel subsidy, labour shut down the whole country and I was stuck in the village after Christmas.
“These days, the only thing NLC does is issuing statements here and there. No action, no strike, no protest. See the level of hardship Nigerians are going through yet everywhere is quiet as if nothing is happening.
“Anybody can come up anytime and increase the price of whatever service they provide and Nigerian workers have no one to speak on their behalf.”
In a similar vein, Adebanjo Idowu Mathew, a sociopolitical activist, demanded that the NLC leadership be fired in order to make room for new labor leaders.
He said, “The truth is that even the government doesn’t take them seriously again since they became involved in politics. Imagine a labour union claiming ownership of a political party. They publicly declared support for a presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections.
“So the ruling party sees them as opposition. To redeem the name, the current leadership needs to go let’s have fresh people, who understand the struggle better and not those interested in themselves alone.
“The first mistake they made was endorsing a presidential candidate. Even if the candidate had won, there would still be problems because, how do you hold a government you brought into power accountable? It won’t work”.
Also, a civil servant, Mrs Anthonia Adikwu accused the leadership of the union of living large at the “expense of those they are meant to protect”.
“They travel abroad for checkups, driving exotic cars and living large at the expense of those they are meant to protect.
“They are not different from those at the helm of power. NLC leadership and government officials are all fighting for themselves. Nobody cares about the masses,” she stated.
Benson Upah, the Head of Information at NLC, was unavailable for comment at the time the article was filed.
