The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation has rejected an alleged attempt by the Federal Government to use the newly adopted National Industrial Relations Policy as a tool to criminalise strike actions and silence trade unions.
The General Secretary, ITUC-Africa, Joel Odigie, said such measures represent a direct affront to the principles of constitutionalism, democracy, and respect for fundamental rights.
He argued that the right to strike is not a privilege to be granted or withdrawn at will, but a fundamental right enshrined in international labour standards, including ILO Conventions No. 87 (Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise) and No. 98 (Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining), to which Nigeria is a signatory.
Also, the regional labour body observed that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Trade Unions Act also recognise and protect the right of workers, individually and collectively, to withdraw their labour in the pursuit of fair treatment, just wages and safe working conditions.
Odigie also held that dissent, freedom of speech, and freedom of opinion are not mere ideals but are integral to constitutional governance and democracy.
According to him, any law or policy designed to suppress these rights is an assault on the very foundation of Nigeria’s constitutional order, tripartism and fledgling social dialogue culture.
He added: “By seeking to do an ingenious interpretation of this policy to target strike actions, we are concerned that the Federal Government of Nigeria is unnecessarily brewing avoidable industrial unrest. Our affiliate in Nigeria, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), seeking to preserve Nigeria’s industrial harmony, informed us of the sleight of hand interpretation as contained in a statement issued by the Federal Executive Council on the 31st of July 2025.”
Odigie noted that the ITUC-Africa is concerned that such an interpretation will undermine not only trade union freedoms but also the democratic right of all citizens to express grievances and hold power to account.He submitted that such policy interpretation risks eroding the spaces and opportunities for Nigeria to consolidate its democracy, saying,
“Democracy strives when citizens and stakeholders, such as workers and their trade union organisations, have mechanisms and tools to advance accountability and safeguard rights at workplaces. We have resolved that workers and their unions will not remain idle and do nothing against plans to undermine industrial liberties and democracy.”
Indeed, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Global Rights Index has, in recent years, documented a worrying decline in respect for trade union rights in Africa, with Nigeria already ranking among countries where such rights are increasingly under threat.
Odigie observed that the latest manoeuvre risks further eroding Nigeria’s standing and reputation in the global community and could push the country deeper into the category of states that systematically deny workers’ rights.
ITUC-Africa, therefore, cautioned and advised the Nigerian government against using policies and actions to stifle and erode workplace rights.
It maintained that such attempts would only be counterproductive and undermine industrial harmony.
ITUC-African said it stands in full solidarity with the NLC and the entire Nigerian labour movement in rejecting the perilous policy direction.
It said: “Should we experience, in the future, the use of this policy to undermine workers and trade unions’ rights, ITUC-Africa, in concert with our affiliates across the continent and the world, will be left with no choice but to mobilise to defend these rights using all available means under continental and international mechanisms.
“Once again, we urge the Nigerian governments at all levels to refrain from wishful and potentially harmful interpretations of the National Industrial Policy to criminalise strikes. The policy, as it stands, does not criminalise the right of workers to withdraw their labour. Therefore, we appeal that no vexatious interpretation should be given to it that may undermine industrial harmony and productivity.”
