Nigeria’s Labour Rights Ranking a National Embarrassment, Declares NLC

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has expressed deep concern over Nigeria’s persistent poor standing on the global labour rights scale, describing the latest ranking as a national embarrassment that demands urgent action from both government and employers.

Speaking at the 68th Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) held in Lagos on Wednesday, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, strongly condemned the country’s inclusion in the list of the 10 worst countries in the world for workers’ rights violations. He was represented at the event by the Deputy President of the NLC and immediate past President-General of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju.

According to Ajaero, the 2025 edition of the ITUC Global Rights Index, published by the International Trade Union Confederation, once again placed Nigeria among the world’s most notorious violators of labour rights.

He described this as an indictment on the nation’s labour environment and an unacceptable legacy for any responsible government or institution.

“This is a stain on our conscience and a legacy none of us should accept,” Ajaero declared. “Many of these violations occur within enterprises represented here today.”

The NLC president specifically called out the continued disregard for collective bargaining agreements, unfair dismissal of workers, suppression of union activities, and unsafe working conditions, which he said remain prevalent in many workplaces across the country.

In his address to NECA and its members, Ajaero urged Nigerian employers to take the lead in reversing this negative trend by promoting decent work standards and showing genuine respect for the rights of workers.

“I urge NECA to lead by example: uphold collective bargaining, respect labour laws, and reaffirm the dignity of the workforce,” he said. “We must create a work environment where every worker feels protected, respected, and valued.”

Ajaero emphasized that improving Nigeria’s international reputation on labour rights would not only enhance worker productivity and morale but also attract responsible foreign investment and strengthen industrial peace.

The NLC’s statement comes amid growing concerns from labour unions, civil society, and the international community over Nigeria’s deteriorating human rights record in the workplace, including cases of wage theft, employment insecurity, and harsh anti-union practices.