NLC Fires Back at Obasanjo Over Trade Union Criticism

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) responds to former President Obasanjo’s criticism of trade unions amid the ongoing minimum wage debate.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a robust rebuttal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent criticisms of trade unions and the welfare of workers, as articulated in his latest publication, Nigeria: Past and Future.

In a statement released on Monday, NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero reminded Obasanjo of the oppressive measures his administration employed against labour leaders, including instances of arrests, detentions, and even the fatalities of protesting workers.

The union also recalled Obasanjo’s unsuccessful attempts to dissolve the NLC and establish a rival labour organization after failing to exert control over it.

Ajaero asserted that the NLC has consistently championed workers’ rights and national progress, accusing Obasanjo of distorting historical facts to minimize the impact of his administration’s anti-labour policies.

“If Chief Obasanjo perceives a decline in the influence of trade unions, he should engage in self-reflection. He may discover his own complicity,” the NLC remarked.

While the NLC acknowledged some of Obasanjo’s concerns, particularly his claim that the minimum wage is inadequate to meet workers’ essential needs, it emphasized its demand for a minimum wage of N610,000. This demand was dismissed by the government and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), which instead proposed a figure of N50,000 without any justification.

Ajaero pointed out that this impasse resulted in a nationwide strike, which was only called off following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention, during which he offered N70,000.

Although the NLC accepted this offer to alleviate further hardship for workers, it noted that President Tinubu had initially contemplated a payment of N250,000 but linked it to an increase in the petrol pump price to N2,500 per litre—a proposal the union rejected to avoid exacerbating the suffering of Nigerians.

Furthermore, the NLC dismissed Obasanjo’s assertion that trade union leaders have neglected the interests of workers, arguing instead that it is “malevolent governments and predatory employers” that have denied workers’ rights, not the union leaders.

In every community, organization, or institution, there exists the potential for individuals with questionable integrity. This holds true for trade unions as well; however, this should not lead to generalizations about the majority of unions, as Chief Obasanjo has suggested. His motivations for such statements remain unclear.

From our perspective, our confrontations with the government have been well-documented, highlighting the misuse of governmental institutions to undermine us. This includes court injunctions, police harassment, and various forms of intimidation and violence directed at the leadership of the Congress.

Ajaero remarked, “Is it still common practice to arrest or assault individuals after compensating them for their silence? There appears to be a discrepancy here. The ‘senior government official close to the President’ who made this assertion warrants further scrutiny. Alternatively, he should disclose specific names, as the social media platform is readily available for such disclosures.

Chief Obasanjo has expressed indignation regarding a trade union leader who, while in office, was negotiating with a political party for endorsement as a gubernatorial candidate.

We wish to respectfully inform him that the right to pursue political leadership, as outlined in the amended 1999 Constitution, is indeed accessible to trade union leaders. The Supreme Court has upheld this principle.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has successfully produced three governors directly from its ranks, with the first occurring during Chief Obasanjo’s presidency,” he clarified.

He further noted that Chief Obasanjo seems concerned that “many union leaders are not meeting the expectations set by the founding fathers.” Which founding fathers is he referring to?

Is he speaking of those oppressed by colonial authorities or those he himself either banned or imprisoned?

If Chief Obasanjo has observed a decline in the influence of trade unions, he should engage in self-reflection. It is possible that he may find himself partially responsible, given his history of arresting and detaining union leaders and the violent suppression of protesting workers, as well as his role in national broadcasting.