Article 40 of the Nigerian Constitution (1999) explicitly guarantees the right of citizens to peaceful assembly and association. However, regrettably, we have observed these rights being violated. For instance, there are documented instances where the NPF forcibly prevented members and leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) from conducting their legitimate activities. The Nigeria Police Force’s unwarranted interference and disruption of the NURTW’s operations, as well as its attacks on legitimate leadership, constitute an alarming abuse of power in favour of vested interests. We strongly condemn these actions against unarmed and vulnerable workers.

Tragically, the federal government’s deployment of a publicly funded institution against Nigerian workers resulted in the violent death of one worker, who was fatally shot by the police. We demand a thorough investigation, prosecution, and appropriate sanctions for the police personnel involved in this heinous crime to help combat impunity effectively.
It is also disheartening to witness the government’s disinformation regarding trade unions in Nigeria, branding them as "enemies of the state" with the aim of tarnishing their reputation. This unwholsesome tactic is exacerbated by the government’s misguided perception of trade unions as a political opposition entity due to the significant support garnered by the Labour Party in recent elections.

ITUC-Africa asserts that attempts to weaken trade unions and diminish their influence are counter productive and directly contravene internationally recognized labor rights and principles. Therefore, we call upon the Nigerian government to immediately cease these attacks and engage in constructive dialogue with the labor movement for the betterment of Nigerian workers’ rights and interests and those of the nation as a whole.
We remind the Nigerian government, especially in its capacity as the current Chair of the ILO Governing Body, of its obligation to uphold and respect its ratified ILO Conventions. The persistent disregard for these conventions is not only regrettable but also tarnishes Nigeria’s international reputation as a champion of labor rights.

Additionally, we wish to underscore that this antagonistic approach towards trade unions undermines their essential role in advancing industrial harmony and productivity. It also contradicts the principles of democratic governance and social dialogue.
Since the advent of democracy in 1999, Nigeria has made significant strides on the path of liberal democracy. This progress owes much to the tireless efforts and sacrifices made by workers, organized labour, and the Nigerian populace as a whole. It has long been the people’s conviction that their rights would be preserved, their well-being genuinely considered, and their welfare substantially improved under a thriving democracy. Nigerian workers, in unity, have fervently believed that an independent and democratic state would better secure their rights, both in the workplace and the community, contributing to the nation’s overall progress. This conviction has driven them to stand resolutely against colonialism, and military rule, much like their counterparts in other parts of Africa.

The Nigerian constitution firmly upholds the right of all Nigerians, including workers, to political participation. Therefore, the involvement of Nigerian workers and trade unions in politics, democratic processes, and their affiliation with the Nigerian Labour Party are not unusual or objectionable. It is worth noting that similar relationships exist in other democracies. For instance, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is in alliance with the ruling African National Congress (ANC), the British Labour Party enjoys the support of British workers and the Trade Union Congress of the United Kingdom (TUC-UK),the Democratic Party in the United States of America is supported by organized labor through the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), and the ruling Workers Party of Brazil also enjoys the full and open support of the Central Union of Workers in Brazil (CUT). These affiliations and relationships do not attract the same unwarranted attacks we are witnessing in Nigeria. This approach is not conducive to a thriving democracy.

ITUC-Africa calls upon Nigerian workers and their trade union organizations and the people to remain steadfast in their commitment to democracy. We urge them to continue to engage in the quest for a democracy that genuinely serves their interests and aspirations.

Finally, we call upon President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the current Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to champion the cause of human and workers’ rights in Nigeria, setting an example of a democracy that upholds these rights and making it an inspiration for other governments in the sub-region.

Issued in Lome, Togo on the 28th of September 2023.
Kwasi Adu-Amankwah
General Secretary