…TUC, ITUC-Africa seek support for unions

YESTERDAY was a day of national disgrace for Nigeria at the ongoing International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva as the country was denied voting rights in some critical proceedings because it failed to fulfil financial obligations to the International Labour Conference.

For Nigerian labour leaders that are attending the conference, the issue goes beyond the inability to cast a vote.

They said the irresponsible behaviour raises questions about Nigeria’s influence in global labour governance at a time when critical decisions are being made on issues such as platform work, gender equality, workers’ rights, and employment policies for conflict-affected societies.

Speaking on the situation, the General of ITUC-Africa, Joel Odigie, said the voting restrictions meant Nigeria could not fully participate in decision-making processes, even after taking part in lengthy debates and negotiations.

In an institution built on tripartite dialogue and democratic decision-making, the inability to vote effectively weakens a country’s voice when final decisions are adopted.

The concern is particularly significant given Nigeria’s traditional position within Africa and the global labour movement.

As Africa’s most populous nation and a country with a long history of trade union engagement, labour leaders argue that Nigeria should be helping to shape international labour standards rather than finding itself sidelined during key votes.

The inability to vote on critical labour issues also raises a wider question about the government’s commitment to labour relations.

As labour leaders discussed the embarrassment in hushed tones at the ILO Building, it was evident that the behaviour reignited criticism from labour organisations over the government’s support for Nigeria’s tripartite delegation.

Odigie alleged that government support for participation in ILO activities has been inconsistent over several years.

He described the situation as contrary to the spirit of the ILO’s tripartite system, which depends on the effective participation of government, employers and workers.

Also, the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nuhu Toro, said that delegates have repeatedly had to find alternative means of attending international labour meetings, which has become a source of frustration among labour leaders.

He maintained that Nigeria’s international obligations should not be treated as optional expenditures.

Indeed, the consequences extend beyond conference procedures.

Nigeria is currently facing scrutiny over freedom of association issues discussed by the ILO’s Committee on the Application of Standards, including concerns linked to ILO Convention No. 87.

Against that backdrop, Odigie and Toro contend that losing voting privileges sends an unfortunate signal about the country’s commitment to international labour obligations.

For them, Nigeria seeks to be a leading voice on African and global labour issues, yet finds itself unable to participate fully in some of the most important decisions due to unresolved, contradictory institutional obligations.

The irony of the situation was not lost on conference participants.

During a session in which delegates debated the future rights of platform workers and discussed the protection of vulnerable groups, Nigeria’s capacity to influence those outcomes was reportedly diminished.

The larger question emerging from Geneva is whether the government will take steps to restore Nigeria’s standing before future ILO meetings.

For labour leaders who are attending the global confab, the issue is not simply about voting rights. It is about ensuring that Nigeria’s voice carries the weight expected of a country of its size, influence and history within the international labour movement.

The basic questions around the disgraceful behaviour, such as how much does Nigeria owe, that resulted in the loss of voting rights? How long has the situation persisted? What explanation the Federal Ministry of Labour would have provided in terms of steps taken to regularise its status and what impact this could have on Nigeria’s influence in future ILO negotiations were left hanging, as the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, was not at the conference to respond to the accusation.

Although he was at the conference last Thursday when he made his presentation, he left the following day, the 5th June 2026.