The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has accused the Federal Government of betraying Nigerian workers through excessive taxation, tariff hikes, and failure to honour labour agreements.
Speaking on Friday at the 6th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) in Lagos, Ajaero warned that workers would not remain silent in the face of worsening economic conditions.
“We must resist the attempt to tax the Nigerian people to death,” Ajaero said, condemning what he described as the government’s prioritisation of corporate interests over citizens’ welfare.
He criticised the non-implementation of the national minimum wage and the reported arbitrary reduction of federal workers’ salaries, calling it a violation of the social contract between the government and the people.
Ajaero commended the outgoing MWUN leadership under Adewale Adeyanju, acknowledging its contributions to strengthening the union and defending workers’ rights. He urged members to elect new leaders committed to securing fair wages, decent working conditions, and a stronger labour movement.
“The new leadership must build on past achievements and take the union to greater heights,” he said.
The NLC president also decried what he called increasing authoritarian tendencies in governance, stating that the labour movement would not tolerate any form of dictatorship or economic oppression.
“We must resist the concentration of power in the hands of a few and the systematic subversion of constitutional order,” he declared, insisting that political leaders must operate within a democratic framework and prioritise workers’ interests.
Ajaero urged Nigerian workers to remain vigilant and organised, assuring them that the NLC would continue to oppose policies that undermine their welfare.
“Our struggle is not just about the maritime sector or MWUN alone. It is a struggle for the soul of Nigeria – to build a nation where workers’ rights are respected, labour is justly rewarded, and citizens’ welfare is prioritised,” he said.
As MWUN prepares to elect new leaders, Ajaero advised delegates to choose wisely, stressing that the future of the labour movement depended on their decisions.
