*Details violence, intimidation, state interference *Says Nigeria has turned rights crisis into a “malignant cancer”
By Victor Ahiuma-Young
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND — The Organised Labour has dragged the Federal government before the International Labour Organization, ILO, accusing authorities at both federal and state levels of systematic violations of workers’ rights, trade union freedoms and collective bargaining agreements in breach of international labour conventions.
Addressing the Committee on the Application of Standards, CAS, at the opening 114th International Labour Conference, ILC, in Geneva, Switzerland, Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, President Joe Ajaero painted a grim picture of labour relations in Nigeria, alleging a pattern of intimidation, violence, unlawful interference in union affairs and suppression of legitimate trade union activities.
The labour movement’s intervention places Nigeria under renewed international scrutiny over its compliance with Convention 98 of the ILO, which guarantees workers the right to organise and bargain collectively.
The NLC urged the global labour body to intervene, warning that what is happening in Nigeria is “a cancer that has become malignant with pustules everywhere.”
Speaking before the committee, Ajaero declared: “We appear before this Committee because workers and their organizations in Nigeria continue to face persistent violations of the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98).”
He argued that the violations were not isolated incidents but represented: “a pattern of interference, intimidation, violence and discrimination directed against workers and their organizations in contravention of the obligations imposed by Convention No. 98.
“In November 2023, while leading a legitimate trade union mission in Imo State to secure implementation of a duly negotiated 2021 collective agreement, I was violently attacked and seriously injured. The attack occurred solely because I was carrying out lawful trade union functions.
“No effective investigation and prosecution has followed despite assurances to the contrary. Such impunity sends a chilling message to workers and trade union representatives throughout Nigeria.“Trade union leaders in Osun State were shown gory pictures of my beaten and bleeding body by agents of the state as what will befall them to dissuade them from embarking on legitimate trade union action.
“On 5 December 2024, the Edo State Government, supported by security personnel, seized and occupied the NLC State Secretariat in Benin City. The Secretariat remains under occupation despite interventions using internal mechanisms.
“The Governor publicly rejected the democratically elected leadership of the NLC in Edo State and sought to influence internal union leadership arrangements.
“On 28 August 2025, security agencies and other actors prevented the inauguration of duly constituted NLC leadership in the state. Trade union officials were pursued all over the city like common criminals, meetings disrupted and organisational activities frustrated. “As it is today, NLC in Edo State is a clone of the Governor so, the government negotiates with itself instead of the legitimate leadership of NLC.”
The NLC also raised concerns over the affairs of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, alleging continued government interference in union leadership despite court rulings.
It urged the ILO Committee to formally declare Nigeria in breach of Articles 1, 2 and 4 of Convention 98 and compel authorities to restore union independence, investigate anti-union violence, respect court decisions and guarantee the safety of labour leaders.
Ajaero warned that the crisis had spread beyond isolated incidents, noting that “The issue before this Committee is not merely one of labour relations. It concerns the fundamental right of workers to organize freely, choose their representatives independently and bargain collectively without fear, interference or violence.
“What is happening in Nigeria is a cancer that has become malignant with pustules everywhere. In Edo, Rivers and Lagos and it is growing.”
He called on the international labour community to deploy “the full weight” of its authority to ensure Nigeria complies with its obligations under international labour standards and safeguards the rights of workers across the country.
