The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has strongly criticized the government’s handling of economic policies, accusing it of burdening citizens with excessive taxation, tariff hikes, and a failure to uphold agreements made with workers.
Speaking at the 6th Quadrennial Delegates Conference of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) in Lagos on Friday, Ajaero expressed deep concerns over the worsening economic conditions and vowed that Nigerian workers would not remain silent in the face of hardship.
Ajaero accused the government of prioritizing corporate interests over the well-being of ordinary Nigerians, failing to regulate the economy effectively, and neglecting the rights of workers.
“We must resist the attempt to tax the Nigerian people to death,” Ajaero declared.
He lamented that, despite economic challenges, the minimum wage remains inconsistently implemented, and federal workers have faced unjust salary deductions.
“These actions are not just unjust; they are a betrayal of the social contract between the government and the people,” he stated.
The NLC President commended the outgoing MWUN leadership under Adewale Adeyanju, recognizing his contributions to protecting maritime workers’ rights. He urged the union to elect leaders who would remain committed to the fight for fair wages and decent working conditions.
“The new leadership must surpass the achievements of the past,” Ajaero emphasized.
“It must take the union to greater heights and ensure that workers ultimately win.”
Ajaero also warned of increasing authoritarian tendencies in governance, stressing that the labour movement would not tolerate economic oppression or political dictatorship.
“We must resist the concentration of power in the hands of a few and the systematic subversion of constitutional order,” he said.
“Political actors must operate within the democratic framework and prioritize the interests of the working class.”
He called on Nigerian workers to stay vigilant and united, promising that the NLC would continue to push back against policies that undermine their welfare.
“Our struggle is not just about the maritime sector or the MWUN alone,” he declared.
“It is a struggle for the soul of Nigeria – a struggle to build a nation where the rights of workers are respected, where labour is justly rewarded, and where the welfare of every citizen is prioritized.”