•Nigerian workers
The Nigeria Labour Congress today issued a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government over its failure to constitute the governing board of the National Pension Commission.
The Labour Centre also accused the government of diverting workers’ funds through the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, reports The PUNCH.
According to a communiqué signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, the Central Working Committee of the NLC met yesterday, Wednesday, August 13, 2025, to deliberate on urgent issues affecting Nigerian workers, the trade union movement, and the nation at large.
The meeting addressed the leadership crisis in the Edo State Council of the NLC, what it described as alarming developments in the NSITF, the governance vacuum in PENCOM, and the broader state of the nation.
The communiqué noted that the CWC expressed outrage at the ongoing assault on workers’ social protection rights through the federal government’s diversion of 40% of workers’ contributions to the national coffers as “revenue,” describing it as a flagrant violation of the statutes establishing the NSITF.
“Equally condemnable is the new administration’s false claim of ownership of the NLC National Headquarters, a property owned by Nigerian workers; the resort to cyber and media bullying of the trade unions and leadership, coupled with covert moves to amend the NSITF Act in a manner that would disenfranchise workers and give the government full control over the funds.
“The CWC warns that these actions represent a direct attack on workers’ rights, hard-earned resources, and the principle of tripartite governance enshrined in international labour standards.
“The Congress affirms that the NSITF belongs to the Nigerian working class and will mobilise all legitimate means to ensure workers’ interests are protected,” Ajaero said.
On the steps to be taken, the NLC president stated, “The NSITF must account for and return all diverted funds within seven working days from today.
“The PENCOM board must be properly constituted in full compliance with the law within seven working days from today.
“The Pension Commission must submit to the NLC a full status report of the funds within the same period.
“If at the end of these seven working days, nothing is done, the NLC will no longer guarantee industrial peace in the sector.”
