President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has raised the alarm over what he described as Nigeria’s dangerous drift toward authoritarian rule, citing increased suppression of workers’ rights and a shrinking democratic space.
Speaking Monday at the opening of the 21st NLC Rain School in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Ajaero accused both federal and state governments of orchestrating a clampdown on civil liberties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“It is clear that governance has been abandoned for 2027 politicking,” Ajaero said. “Leaders who should be working to alleviate suffering are instead consumed by power games leaving workers and ordinary Nigerians to bear the brunt of economic hardship and burgeoning insecurity.”
Themed “Labour and Human Rights in a Shrinking Democratic Space,” the event drew attention to Nigeria’s declining global labour rights rankings. Ajaero noted that the country is now listed among the ten worst nations for workers’ rights violations.
He accused Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo of attempting to factionalise the NLC in the state and threatening Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
“If he can invade the NLC Secretariat and attempt to create a parallel NLC structure, then he is capable of threatening any Nigerian citizen without a second thought,” Ajaero said.
The NLC president also alleged that the Federal Government was using the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to evict the union from its national secretariat in Abuja.
“This is not just an attack on a building it is an attack on the collective voice of Nigerian workers. It’s part of a grand plan to silence our voices ahead of 2027. But we say to them: You will fail!”
Ajaero concluded by urging workers to prepare for political mobilisation ahead of the next elections, warning that political elites are scheming not to serve, but to retain power.
“We must organise, mobilise, and build workers’ political power. Politicians are scheming not to serve, but to grab power. We must not be spectators.”
