The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, has warned that the collapse of the labour movement would affect all Nigerians, not just workers, by weakening one of the country’s major platforms for defending economic and social rights.
Ajaero gave the warning in Lagos while speaking at the 2026 Annual Conference of the Labour Writers Association of Nigeria (LAWAN), themed, Workers at the Centre of Nigeria’s Political Transition: Defending Rights, Advancing Welfare and Building Economic Justice.
He said organised labour remained an important voice for ordinary Nigerians, particularly in challenging government policies and defending the interests of vulnerable groups.
“If the labour movement collapses today, all of us will become victims,” he declared.
According to him, the weakening of organised labour would leave workers and other vulnerable citizens with fewer platforms to express their grievances and collectively challenge policies affecting their livelihoods.
He criticised Nigerians who complain about the rising cost of living but expect the NLC to confront every economic challenge without offering public support.
“It is not enough to complain about the cost of fuel, transportation, food or other necessities and then ask where the NLC is,” he said.
“The labour movement cannot solve every problem without the participation and support of the people.”
Ajaero maintained that demands for affordable transportation, lower living costs and policies that improve economic conditions should not be left to organised labour alone.
He said the benefits of such demands would extend to the entire population, irrespective of employment status.
“For instance, if the price of petrol is reduced to a more affordable level, every Nigerian who depends on transportation will benefit.
“It should not be a situation where only organised labour speaks out while other citizens remain silent on issues that affect everybody,” he warned.
Labour’s role in democracy
The NLC president also recalled the contributions of organised labour, students and civil society organisations to Nigeria’s struggle for democratic governance and the protection of civic freedoms.
Reflecting on his experience as a student activist in 1988, during the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida, Ajaero said labour and civil society groups had played significant roles in challenging military rule.
He recalled periods when civil society organisations and other groups supported efforts to defend Nigerians when the NLC faced difficulties.
He also cited the 1929 Aba Women’s protest against colonial taxation as an example of how ordinary citizens could organise themselves to challenge policies they considered unjust.
“The Aba Women’s protest of 1929 is an important historical example. The women mobilised against taxation imposed on them by the colonial authorities. Their protest demonstrated that ordinary people can organise themselves to challenge policies they consider unjust,” he said.
He noted that Nigerians currently faced economic difficulties, including rising taxes and the high cost of living, stressing the importance of solidarity and collective action.
“Today, Nigerians face several economic challenges, including rising taxes and the high cost of living. We must therefore understand that collective action and solidarity are necessary to defend our common interests,” he stated.
Why workers’ welfare matters
Ajaero further argued that improving workers’ welfare should be regarded as an economic strategy rather than merely a demand by organised labour.
He explained that workers’ salaries circulate within the domestic economy through spending on food, transportation, accommodation and other necessities.
According to him, improved wages would benefit not only employees but also traders, landlords, transport operators and small business owners.
“Money paid to workers circulates within the domestic economy. When workers receive their salaries, they spend on food, transportation, accommodation and other essential needs,” he explained.
He added that ordinary workers spend a substantial proportion of their earnings within the local economy, unlike wealthy individuals who may spend more on imported goods.
“That is why we must continue to advocate for real wages. When workers earn salaries that reflect the cost of living, the money circulates within the economy and stimulates economic activities.
“Therefore, the government must recognise that improving workers’ purchasing power is not simply a labour demand; it is also an economic strategy,” he declared.
Ajaero urged Nigerians to recognise the importance of organised labour and support its interventions on issues affecting the wider population, insisting that protecting workers’ welfare and strengthening the labour movement should be a collective responsibility.
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