The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Nigerian 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.
According to a communiqué signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, the Central Working Committee of the NLC met on 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.
