The Meeting considered reports, reviewed the State of the Nation, and resolved as follows:
1. State of the Nation and Nigeria’s Economy
The CWC expressed grave concern over the escalating economic hardship which has pushed and kept millions of Nigerians in multidimensional poverty. Workers and their families continue to bear the brunt of unrelenting inflation, surging food prices, prohibitive transport costs, and the erosion of real wages.
The CWC noted the ongoing regional Public Hearings on the Review of the 1999 Constitution and underscored that this process must not be reduced to a ritualistic exercise. Instead, it must serve as an historic opportunity to address the structural imbalances that perpetuate underdevelopment, entrench inequities, and stifle the productive forces of our federation. In this regard, the CWC called for:
• A cautioning of those who seek to remove Labour issues in the constitution from the Exclusive Legislative list to the Concurrent list to desist. Such moves by those who want to further impoverish Nigerian workers would be resisted. Labour issues must remain in the Exclusive Legislative list to avert negative implications for workers and the economy.
• All Nigerian workers to begin mobilization across the country to picket the offices of any National Assembly member found supporting the removal of labour issues from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent list.
• Genuine fiscal federalism that empowers sub-national governments to drive economic development,
• Reforms to close the leadership recruitment gaps that have bred mediocrity and state capture.
• Institutional strengthening of Nigeria’s electoral system to ensure that electoral outcomes are truly reflective of the sovereign will of the people rather than products of rigging, vote-buying, and other malpractices that have delegitimized democratic governance.

2. Security Situation
The CWC unequivocally condemned the alarming and continuous deterioration of security across the country. The spate of mindless killings in the Middle Belt, the North East, the North West, and the general climate of violence and criminality are stark indictments of state failure to protect life and property. The nearly 700,000 lives lost in just a year according to reports to insecurity in Nigeria can only happen in nations at war. When farmers can no longer access their lands to farm, famine becomes a looming danger. The present high prices of food in the country can only be attributed to insecurity.
The Meeting therefore demanded that the Federal Government and security agencies take decisive, coordinated action to stem the tide of insecurity and restore public confidence in the capacity of the Nigerian State to secure its citizens. Time for talk shops and promises have gone and what is needed now are actions.

3. Local Government Autonomy and Diversion of Osun state local government funds
The CWC reaffirmed its position in support of genuine local government autonomy as a cornerstone for grassroots development, accountability, and democratic participation. The Congress called on all stakeholders engaged in the constitutional review process to enshrine provisions that safeguard the financial and administrative independence of local governments.
It reviewed with grave concern the deliberate withholding and diversion of statutory allocations due to the democratically elected Local Government Councils in Osun State, orchestrated by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation in collusion with the Minister of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This act constitutes a blatant violation of the Constitution, the Fiscal Responsibility Act, and the judgment of the Court of Appeal affirming the legitimacy of the current Local Government leadership in Osun State.

The CWC condemns in strongest terms this partisan interference, which undermines grassroots governance, deprives workers of their wages, and sabotages essential services such as primary healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
➢ The NLC demands the immediate and unconditional release of all withheld Local Government allocations to the lawfully recognized administrations in Osun State.
➢ The Attorney-General must retract all unlawful directives to federal financial institutions and cease further politicization of Local Government autonomy.
➢ The NLC warns that failure to comply within a reasonable timeframe will compel decisive actions to protect workers’ rights and uphold the rule of law.

4. On the Violation of the Principle of Voluntarism in Trade Union Membership
The Central Working Committee (CWC) notes with grave concern the persistent and growing trend whereby certain employers are willfully violating the Trade Union Act 2005. The Act, in clear and unequivocal terms, upholds the principle of Voluntarism as a cardinal pillar of trade unionism in Nigeria, guaranteeing every worker the unfettered right to freely join any trade union of their choice without coercion, intimidation, or interference.

It is utterly unacceptable that, despite the express provisions of the law, some employers continue to dictate, compel, or otherwise manipulate workers to belong to specific unions, often citing spurious reasons relating to job classification, grade levels, or other self-serving justifications. This practice constitutes a direct assault on workers’ fundamental rights, an affront to Nigeria’s international obligations under ILO Conventions, and an egregious abuse of authority.
• The CWC consequentially calls on all such employers to immediately desist from these unlawful and anti-worker practices.
• Furthermore, the CWC directs all affiliate unions so affected to not only reject and resist any attempt to impose union membership on workers but also to mobilise and proceed to picket any employer engaging in such illegal actions, in line with the NLC’s commitment to defending the rights and dignity of Nigerian workers.
The Nigeria Labour Congress assures its affiliates of its readiness to support their actions in protecting their members from such employers’ impunity and abuse.

5. Transportation and CNG Infrastructure
Recognizing the crippling effects of high transportation costs on workers and the broader populace, the CWC while thanking the Government for the donation of CNG buses called on the government to expedite the rollout of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) infrastructure nationwide. This measure, if effectively implemented, will ease the burden of mobility costs and mitigate the inflationary pressures confronting households.

6. Conclusion
In conclusion, the CWC resolved to intensify engagements with all tiers of government to press for immediate policy interventions to ameliorate the economic suffering of Nigerians, particularly workers who remain the engine room of national productivity. The NLC further reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the defence of democracy, economic justice, and social progress.

Signed:
Comrade Joe Ajaero,
President

Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja Esq. mni
General Secretary
.