The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has delivered a damning verdict on President Bola Tinubu’s administration, declaring that two years into his tenure, Nigerian workers and the general public have gained nothing but pain, hardship, and disillusionment.
In a strongly worded statement, NLC President Joe Ajaero criticized Tinubu’s economic reforms and governance style, describing them as a rehash of failed neoliberal policies that have worsened the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
“The only thing bolder than his rhetoric is the magnitude of suffering and hardship his policies have inflicted,” Ajaero said, noting that hopes of economic prosperity have instead been replaced by inflation, hunger, and a broken social contract.
Petrol Subsidy Removal and Economic Fallout
Central to the NLC’s criticism is the sudden removal of petrol subsidies in May 2023, which caused pump prices to soar from N187 to over N600 per litre overnight. While the government claimed this would free up funds for infrastructure and social services, Ajaero says Nigerians received nothing in return but soaring inflation, collapsing small businesses, and a cost-of-living crisis.
“Families now skip meals, businesses shut down daily, and the naira has collapsed, making local industries uncompetitive,” he said.
The free-floating of the naira has led to rampant imported inflation, while promised reinvestments have yet to materialize.
Rising Poverty, Wage Erosion, and Labour Rights Abuse
Ajaero emphasized that real wages have been wiped out and over 150 million Nigerians now live in multidimensional poverty. He also decried the government’s failure to pay wage award arrears and accused it of intimidating and harassing Labour leaders, ignoring court orders, and criminalizing union actions.
“Instead of dialogue, workers demanding a living wage are met with batons and threats,” he said, citing government excesses such as luxury convoys and lavish budgets amid nationwide suffering.
Security Crisis Undermining Economic Stability
Beyond the economy, the NLC president warned of escalating insecurity, including mass kidnappings, banditry, and terrorism, which he said render any economic discussion “absurd” in a nation that feels like a war zone.
“Who will invest in such an environment except looters and plunderers?” he asked.
He also slammed the disconnect between elite policymakers and the grassroots, accusing Tinubu’s administration of prioritizing foreign interests and powerful elites over Nigerian citizens.
Global Decline in Workers’ Rights: Nigeria Among Worst
In a related development, the 2025 ITUC Global Rights Index has listed Nigeria among the world’s 10 worst countries for workers’ rights, alongside nations like Myanmar, Egypt, and Bangladesh.
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) report highlights a global collapse in labour rights, noting that only seven countries now hold the top rating (1)—a sharp fall from 18 in 2014. Nigeria’s inclusion in the bottom tier as a new entrant reflects its deteriorating record on free speech, collective bargaining, and union protection.
According to ITUC General-Secretary Luc Triangle, the global decline stems from decades of deregulation, authoritarian governance, and billionaire-backed efforts to undermine democracy.
“If the pace continues, in 10 years, no country will hold the highest rating for respect for workers’ rights,” he warned.
Call for a New Direction
The NLC concluded its statement with a strong call for a complete policy reversal, urging the Tinubu administration to abandon its “cruel economic experiments” and listen to the voices of suffering Nigerians.
“Reforms that bring only pain without gain are not reforms—they are deformations,” Ajaero stated. “Anything less than a people-focused policy shift is a betrayal of public trust.”
