Nigeria Labor Congress

Workers who refused to be dehumanized by the government at all levels are presently in their different homes celebrating the gift of life.

A New Beginning starts from here

This assertion was made by the National Coordinator of the Federal Workers Forum (FWF), Comrade Andrew Emelieze, in his message on the occasion of the International Workers Day celebration.

'A sizable number of workers in Nigeria, who, by the grace of God, refused to be dehumanized, are presently in the comfort of their homes celebrating God's guidance, protection, and the gift of life, despite several attempts to abruptly compromise their existence. We thank God for life; that is the major reason we are celebrating in our various homes. Comrade Emelieze stated.

The Local Scene

The situation of workers in Nigeria is not only pitiable but also calls for urgent action to reverse the disturbing scenario.

Indeed, proteges of Those-in-Charge have, long before now, taken charge of the affairs of the two major labor centers in the country, including their affiliates.

This takeover was well-crafted and organized, even though it caught the majority of the workers unawares.

This explains why the several demands of workers have been left unattended to up till this moment.

It is obvious that the ominous times are here.

Workers in Nigeria have raised alarm over the unfair taxation of their monthly salaries by the federal and state governments.

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The workers under the aegis of the Federal Workers Forum (FWF) raised this alarm in a letter titled PROTEST AGAINST EXPLOITATION OF WORKERS BY THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT, THE COMPROMISE OF LABOR UNIONS, AND NOTIFICATIONS FOR INDEFINITE PROTEST FROM 22ND APRIL 2025 BY FEDERAL WORKERS, addressed to the International Labour Organization (ILO) and signed by the National Coordinator (FWF), Comrade Andrew Emelieze, and Secretary General, Comrade Itoro Obong.

"Federal workers" salaries and ALLOWANCES are equally heavily taxed, and no tax rebate or certificate is issued to the workers at the end of the year. Despite the poor national minimum wage, the federal government in Nigeria has continued to owe federal workers lots of arrears of allowances, promotion arrears, hazard allowances, duty tour allowance (DTA), etc. This we have seen leading to agitations among health sector workers, education sector workers, and many others.

It will interest the ILO to note that the federal government of Nigeria has owed all federal government workers in Nigeria a five-month wage award worth 175,000 naira per worker since July 2024.''

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''The workers also lamented the deceitful implementation of the N70,000 new minimum wage by the government, saying, More painful is the fact that the last national minimum wage of 70,000 naira was implemented without an agreed table with the organized labor representatives, and in the end only a meager 40,000 naira was what was added to the salaries of all federal workers across all levels in Nigeria. More painful is the fact that our industrial unions and their labor centers of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) never at any instance queried the new national minimum wage table, nor did they query the federal government over the arrears of five months wage award balance payment to the federal workers or others being owed the federal workers.

''The President has been very unfair and hostile to the Nigerian workers. While salaries have remained abysmally poor, President Tinubu and his team have continued to attack workers through their anti-worker policies, as we have seen in hikes in the price of petroleum products, the deliberate devaluation of our national currency (the naira), and hikes in the price of everything in the face of double-digit inflation. President Tinubu is subjecting the Nigerian workers to hellish conditions, and he has shown a lack of interest in the well-being of the workers.

The Nigerian government has also severely flouted the international conventions of the ILO cum UN aimed at promoting decent work conditions and fair pay for work done. The situation in Nigeria is an existential threat to the general populace in the country and a threat to world peace and security. ''They concluded.

Workers in both the public and private sectors of all sectors of the economy in Nigeria are yet to attain the acceptable state of mind to guarantee unimpeded productivity.

Living wages and human-friendly conditions of service boost efficiency, effectiveness, and diligence in economies that value the worth of their workforce.

However, lamentations, complaints, grumblings, and arguments have for so long characterized the approach of workers to the scheme of things.

Sadly, the multiple effects of the obvious disregard for the workforce have manifested in all sectors of the economy.

Comrade Andrew Emelieze is the convener of the All Workers Convergence and Federal Workers Forum.

Comrade Emelieze laments that the situation is almost hopeless, just as he calls on those in charge to salvage the country's helpless workers.

''The new national minimum wage is nothing to write home about. Workers in Nigeria are in a state of confusion over the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage. The amount that was added to our salaries is inconsequential, demeaning, and equally exploitative.

Federal workers are still in deep shock as the January salaries were reduced, the annual increment is missing, the so-called N40,000 consequential adjustment minimum wage was withheld, and there is no readily available explanation from the federal government. Moreover, 5 months of wage award arrears are yet to be paid, and promotion arrears are still being expected in addition to so many other arrears. Surprisingly, just as December salaries were delayed, some ministries, departments, and agencies are yet to receive January salaries.'' Comrade Emelieze revealed.

Indeed, those who worship God and mammon simultaneously are already blaming themselves and their sponsors.

A former chairman of the Oyo state council of the Trade Union Congress(TUC), Comrade Andrew Emelieze has hailed the High Court judgment that vindicated the embattled president of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria(ASCSN), Bola Audu for human trafficking.
Comrade Emelieze gave the commendation in a statement.
''The Judiciary remains the last resort of the common Nigerian. The high court's judgment has vindicated Bola Audu of human trafficking. This is a welcome development.
After over two years of trial, the court has finally declared that Comrade Bola Innocent Audu is truly innocent in the alleged case of human trafficking . Comrade Bola Audu, a staff of the Accountant General of the Federation, and also the National President of the Association of Senior Civil servants of Nigeria, (ASCSN), who also doubles as the National Vice President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) was arraigned alongside three other civil servants for human trafficking. We are full of joy to hear of the victory of Bola Audu,'' Comrade Emelieze concluded.