At the ongoing International Labour Conference in Geneva, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has placed Nigerian workers’ rights at the centre of debate.
The union told the ILO Credentials Committee that the country’s failure to fund its nominated labour delegates has left workers without a seat at the table where global labour standards are set. The NLC argued that excluding worker representatives weakens the ILO’s core principle of tripartism, which guarantees equal voice for government, employers and workers. The congress said this denial of participation is not a one-off error but a pattern that threatens how Nigerian workers are represented internationally.
In its petition, the union stated: “The Nigerian government has consistently failed to discharge this obligation with respect to the NLC’s leadership. Despite the timely submission of nominations by the NLC in accordance with national and ILO procedures, the government has repeatedly withheld or delayed the release of funds necessary for the travel, accommodation and conference participation of the NLC’s designated worker delegates.”
The NLC told the committee that all efforts to resolve the issue locally, including talks with the Federal Ministry of Labour and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, produced no result. Citing Article 3, Paragraph 5 of the ILO Constitution, the congress stressed that member states must agree worker nominations with the most representative unions and cover their costs to ensure equal representation.
“This failure is not a result of administrative oversight but appears to be a deliberate pattern, as verbal and written assurances from relevant government ministries have repeatedly been disregarded.”
The union asked the ILO committee to declare Nigeria’s delegation incomplete and to direct the Federal Government to release funds immediately so that properly nominated worker delegates can join the conference. The NLC warned that without intervention, Nigerian workers will continue to miss the global forum created to protect their rights.
“Without the intervention of this Honourable Committee, Nigerian workers will continue to be systematically excluded from the very forum designed to protect their rights.”
