The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Edo State government, demanding the evacuation of its secretariat in Benin. The deadline, set for January 8, 2025, was announced in a statement signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero and General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja, following a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Owerri, Imo State, on Thursday.
The NLC’s statement also called for the police to vacate the secretariat, return all confiscated property to the Congress, and cease any further interference with trade union activities.
The union condemned the actions of both the Edo State government and Governor Monday Okpebholo, accusing them of orchestrating an unlawful invasion of the NLC State Secretariat.
“This brazen act of impunity included the ransacking of properties and the unlawful removal of items, all aimed at imposing an illegitimate leadership on the workers,” the statement read.
The NLC warned that failure to comply with the ultimatum would force the Congress to take unprecedented measures in defense of workers’ rights.
In addition to the Benin secretariat issue, the NEC meeting in Owerri discussed various pressing issues affecting Nigerian workers and the general public.
One of the main points of discussion was the country’s worsening socio-economic conditions, which the NLC attributed to government policies that have exacerbated hardship and deepened the survival crisis for millions of Nigerians.
The NLC expressed concern over the persistent cash scarcity, which has had a severe impact on business activities across the country. The union criticized the financial burden placed on citizens, as Nigerians are reportedly losing 5% of their funds each time they access cash.
The NLC described this as an “unfortunate and exploitative burden” that worsens the economic struggles faced by the population, particularly small businesses and informal economy workers.
The union called for immediate intervention from the federal government, urging the Central Bank of Nigeria to take action to ensure cash availability for small business transactions and to stimulate economic growth. “We expect the Central Bank Governor to take steps to ensure that cash is made available to the citizenry,” the NLC stated.
Further, the NLC emphasized that the primary aim of taxation is to generate revenue for government operations and that any tax system must be fair, transparent, and effective in delivering tangible benefits to citizens.
The NLC demanded that the Tax Bill currently before the National Assembly be put on hold for wider consultation and engagement with Nigerian workers. The union expressed concern over the politicization of the bill, warning that the exclusion of key stakeholders undermines its potential to revamp the economy and serve the public interest.
The NLC also raised alarm over the state of insecurity in the country, citing disturbing reports that Nigerians paid N2.23 trillion in ransom this year alone, with over 2 million people affected by kidnapping.
“This appalling state of insecurity underscores the urgent need for the government to take decisive action to safeguard lives and property,” the NLC statement stressed, noting that the majority of the victims were workers.
On the issue of taxation, the NLC criticized the exclusion of organized labor in the development of the current tax bill, calling it “unacceptable” and a violation of tax justice principles. “If labor is not at the table, it is effectively on the menu,” the union concluded.
