The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has dismissed claims made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who accused labour leaders of failing Nigerian workers and compromising their responsibilities for personal ambition.
Obasanjo, in his latest book, Nigeria: Past and Future, alleged that union leaders had become obstacles to workers’ welfare rather than advocates for their rights. He suggested that their actions contributed to poor wages and difficult working conditions in the country.
In response, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, acknowledged Obasanjo’s recognition of workers’ struggles but strongly rejected the claim that union leaders were to blame. He maintained that the real culprits behind poor wages and worsening labour conditions were the government and employers.
Ajaero defended the NLC’s recent push for a ₦610,000 minimum wage, stating that the demand was based on a detailed assessment of workers’ needs. He criticised the government and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) for countering with a significantly lower offer of ₦50,000, without justification for how it would cover basic living expenses.
Last year, negotiations over the minimum wage led to a nationwide strike, which was suspended after President Bola Tinubu proposed ₦70,000—a marginal increase from the committee’s recommendation.
Dismissing Obasanjo’s claim that union leaders had betrayed workers, Ajaero acknowledged that, like any organisation, some bad actors exist within labour unions. However, he insisted that the majority of union leaders had consistently fought for workers’ rights, despite government repression.
“We are delighted to have an ally in Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,” Ajaero said. “He reiterated our argument in his book when he wrote that the minimum wage does not even cover transportation costs for some workers, let alone food, housing, and family upkeep. We agree that workers need more attention than they are getting. It is their right, and they have been denied it for too long. But it is important to state that malevolent governments and predatory employers, not union leaders, are responsible for this injustice.”
Ajaero further challenged Obasanjo to provide evidence of labour leaders betraying workers instead of making blanket accusations. He also addressed the former president’s concerns about union leaders engaging in politics, arguing that the 1999 Constitution guarantees every Nigerian, including union leaders, the right to political participation.
He reminded Obasanjo that three former labour leaders had become state governors, the first of whom was elected during Obasanjo’s presidency. Ajaero also accused Obasanjo of weakening the labour movement during his time in office, making his criticism of union leaders hypocritical.
The NLC president reaffirmed the union’s commitment to fighting for fair wages and improved working conditions, despite external pressures.
