The Courier and Logistics Services Staff Association of Nigeria (CALSSAN) has called for stronger protection for workers in the rapidly expanding logistics industry, demanding effective regulation, respect for trade union rights and action against unregistered operators.

The union said the growth of e-commerce, digital platforms and technology-driven logistics had created employment opportunities but also exposed workers to unfair labour practices, unsafe operations, rising costs and resistance to unionisation.

Speaking at the first national delegates conference of CALSSAN in Lagos, its President, Festus Oluwatuyi, said the association had faced administrative and legal challenges in organising workers and establishing its jurisdiction since its registration.

Oluwatuyi said some employers had resisted union recognition, collective bargaining and the deduction of check-off dues, urging the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to pay greater attention to alleged intimidation and resistance to trade unionism in the sector.

He said CALSSAN would continue to engage government, employers and other stakeholders lawfully while strengthening its capacity to protect workers’ safety, welfare and employment rights.

The CALSSAN president identified worker safety and security, occupational health and safety, protection against unfair labour practices, skills development, sustainable employment and stronger collective bargaining as key priorities for the union.

He also warned that rising fuel and transportation costs were putting additional pressure on businesses and workers, noting that the logistics industry depended heavily on fuel, technology, security, customs, aviation and other regulatory processes.

“When logistics costs increase, businesses feel the pressure. When businesses feel pressure, workers can also become vulnerable,” he said.

Speaking on ‘Steering the Logistics Terrain in Nigeria: Importance and Necessity of Regulatory Framework for the Industry’, Country Head, Business Development, United Parcel Service (UPS), Osita Nweke, stressed the importance of infrastructure to the growth of the sector.

He said improved road networks would strengthen the supply chain and boost commerce, while weak regulation had left the industry vulnerable to abuse.

According to him, the sector had become an “all-commerce affair”, with unregistered operators providing courier and logistics services without adequate oversight.

Nweke said such regulatory gaps could create security risks, alleging that some unregulated operators had been linked to kidnapping, gun-running and drug distribution.

“That’s why you could have cases of disparate guys kidnapping kids. Some of them are into gun running. Some of them, like recently, we found out you have people who are even into drugs, also distributing drugs within the metropolis because the regulatory agencies are weak in terms of enforcing regulation,” he said.

Representing Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo, assured logistics operators of the state government’s support.

Ayantayo said providing the necessary infrastructure would enable operators to conduct their businesses peacefully, efficiently and effectively.

“When you have infrastructure in place for people to do their business, especially people who are in the logistics business… we make it possible for them to do business in peace, quickly and efficiently,” he said.

“The promise of Lagos State government to people in this very industry is that we are going to satisfy the logistics operators.”

The General Secretary of CALSSAN, Emeka Ekeh, called for an independent and effective regulatory framework for the courier and logistics industry, saying stronger regulation was necessary to address security, consumer protection, quality and safety standards, revenue generation and economic growth.

Ekeh also raised concerns over the treatment of workers in some logistics companies, particularly alleged resistance to trade union membership, collective bargaining and check-off dues.

He said several companies were yet to comply with requests for union recognition and dues deductions.

Ekeh said CALSSAN had engaged the Lagos State Government over alleged double taxation of courier and logistics workers and misconduct by some government agents, adding that such practices were increasing the difficulties confronting workers and operators.

Chairman of the occasion and Managing Director of DHL Nigeria, Muyiwa Adeseyoju, urged CALSSAN to collaborate with regulators and law enforcement agencies to tackle unregistered operators whose activities, he said, could compromise safety standards and undercut compliant businesses.

Representing the Director, Information Technology, DHL Nigeria, Kingsley David, Adeseyoju said the industry needed a regulatory environment that supported sustainable growth while protecting workers and legitimate operators from unfair practices.

He identified multiple taxation, arbitrary state levies, infrastructure deficits, rising fuel costs, inflation and currency fluctuations as major pressures confronting logistics businesses, stressing that reducing operational burdens was important to sustaining businesses and protecting jobs.

Adeseyoju also urged CALSSAN to prioritise continuous training, safety certification and career development as logistics companies increasingly adopt artificial intelligence-driven route optimisation, automated sorting and real-time tracking.

Representing the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Dingyadi, the Registrar of Trade Unions,
Shaibu Rabiu, urged workers in the industry to embrace digitalisation to improve performance and productivity.

Dingyadi also charged CALSSAN members and other stakeholders to comply with laws governing the courier and logistics industry, saying adherence to the regulatory framework would enable the sector to contribute meaningfully to the economy.

Similarly, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, represented by the Chairman, Lagos
State Council, Funmi Sessi, urged workers in the industry to embrace unionism and avoid unlawful actions that could undermine their safety and welfare.

Ajaero also called for policies and infrastructure that would support the growth of courier and logistics businesses, stressing the importance of sustaining viable enterprises as a basis for protecting jobs.