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Demands government crackdown
By Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has accused multinational corporations (MNEs) in Nigeria of institutionalising “slavish work” and exploiting workers with impunity.
Speaking at the National Dialogue on “Promoting Sustainable and Responsible Business Practices for the Realisation of Decent Work in Nigeria” on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, in Abuja, Ajaero criticised foreign companies for violating labour standards in Nigeria that they uphold in their home countries.
“Multinational corporations, with their vast resources and global reach, have a special duty to lead by example. Yet, what we see too often are practices that would never be tolerated in their home countries: workers paid starvation wages, factories where safety is an afterthought, and supply chains tainted by child labour and environmental destruction. This is not just a labour issue; it is a full-blown national crisis,” Ajaero declared.
Ajaero demanded urgent government action to curb these excesses, urging Nigeria to stop being a haven for unethical business conduct. He called for the ratification of ILO Convention 190, empowerment of labour inspectors, and the transmission of pending labour administration laws to the National Assembly.
“We therefore call on the Nigerian government to stand firm; to strengthen enforcement, to hold corporations accountable, and to ensure that our laws match the realities of today’s economy,” he said.
He urged multinationals to take concrete actions: “Step up; not with sloganeering and talk shops, but with concrete action. Pay living wages. Guarantee safe workplaces. Respect the right to organise. Clean up your supply chains. And when harm is done, make it right.”
Ajaero added, “When your companies plunder Nigerian workers and destroy communities, we see no difference between them and your nations. They are your ambassadors. Call them to order.”
Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Festus Osifo also called for reforms, warning that practices like precarious employment, unsafe workplaces, wage theft, and rights violations fuel instability.
“These are not the hallmarks of a sustainable or productive business environment. Rather, they are symptoms of systemic dysfunctions that must be addressed through meaningful collaboration,” Osifo said.
He emphasised that decent work is an investment in enterprise sustainability and national stability, urging participants to mainstream sustainability and justice in work practices.
Director General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, highlighted NECA’s efforts to promote decent work through partnerships and capacity building. He noted challenges in the informal sector, which employs over 80% of the workforce and lacks social protections, calling for stronger tripartite collaboration and expanded social protection schemes.
Dr. Vanessa Phala, Director of the ILO Country Office for Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Liaison for ECOWAS, stressed the dialogue’s timely significance. She noted Nigeria’s potential to lead inclusive growth under its Agenda 2050 framework.
“Trade, investment, and enterprises are powerful drivers of economic growth, but they must respect social and environmental standards,” Phala said, urging Nigeria to leverage the ILO’s MNE Declaration for responsible business conduct.
The dialogue, supported by the ILO and the Government of France, aims to produce follow-up actions to strengthen national coordination for responsible business practices.