TUC Issues Fresh Demands to Tinubu Govt Over Hardship, Insecurity
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to take urgent and measurable steps to address rising living costs, insecurity, declining industrial activities and unresolved labour disputes affecting workers across the country.
The congress has requested an urgent meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), insisting that the Federal Government must move beyond promises and introduce concrete measures to ease the hardship facing Nigerian workers.
In a letter dated October 8, the TUC said the worsening economic and security situation had continued to threaten livelihoods, weaken workers’ purchasing power and create uncertainty for businesses and households.
The letter was signed by the congress president, Comrade Festus Osifo, and its Secretary-General, Comrade General N. A. Toro.
The union identified insecurity, inflation, exchange-rate instability, poor workers’ remuneration, declining manufacturing activities, violations of labour rights and unresolved industrial disagreements as issues requiring immediate government attention.
It warned that the situation could no longer be handled through routine consultations without clear commitments and visible results.
“What is required now is decisive leadership, clear commitments and demonstrable results,” the congress declared, stressing that workers could not continue to shoulder the consequences of economic difficulties and policy failures without meaningful intervention.
The TUC maintained that the proposed meeting should provide an opportunity for the government and organised labour to agree on practical solutions, with specific timelines for implementation.
The congress also called for stronger measures to address insecurity, warning that persistent attacks, killings and other criminal activities continued to endanger lives, disrupt farming and threaten food production across the country.
It acknowledged the efforts of security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS), but said more needed to be done to improve their operational effectiveness.
The TUC urged the Federal Government to provide adequate funding, strengthen coordination among security agencies and equip them to respond more effectively to threats.
It also stressed the need for sustained security operations that would restore public confidence and allow economic activities to continue without constant fear.
On the economy, the congress called for policies that would stabilise the naira at what it described as its fair market value.
It said exchange-rate instability and rising prices had continued to place pressure on workers, many of whom were struggling to meet basic household expenses.
The union argued that improving the value of the naira and controlling inflation would help reduce the cost of essential goods and services.
It urged the government to ensure that economic policies translated into real improvements in the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians.
The TUC also demanded an immediate upward review of salaries for federal workers, insisting that the government should not wait until the next national minimum wage review before improving workers’ earnings.
Although the current national minimum wage is due for review in 2027, the congress maintained that the government could introduce better remuneration before the expiration of the existing arrangement.
It proposed an upward adjustment of wages while preparations continued for the inauguration of a new minimum wage committee in the first quarter of 2027.
The congress said the rising cost of food, transportation, housing and other necessities had weakened the purchasing power of workers, making it increasingly difficult for many families to maintain a decent standard of living.
It therefore called on the government to treat wage improvement as an urgent issue rather than a matter that could be postponed until the next statutory review.
The manufacturing sector was another major concern raised by the labour body.
The TUC warned that high production costs, unreliable electricity supply and other operational difficulties were putting pressure on local industries, particularly textile manufacturers.
According to the congress, the challenges facing manufacturers were threatening industrial survival, reducing production capacity and contributing to job losses.
It called for urgent discussions involving the government, organised labour and other stakeholders to develop measures that would make local production more competitive.
The union specifically urged the government to improve access to affordable and reliable electricity, support domestic cotton production and encourage mechanised farming.
It said such interventions could help reduce production expenses, strengthen local supply chains and protect employment in the manufacturing sector.
The TUC also raised concerns over the treatment of workers in different workplaces, condemning casualisation, exploitative employment arrangements, cheap labour and child labour.
It called for stricter enforcement of existing labour laws, regular workplace inspections and appropriate sanctions against employers found to be violating established standards.
The congress insisted that legal protections for workers would have little meaning if employers continued to disregard them without consequences.
It maintained that the government must ensure that workers receive fair treatment, adequate remuneration and the protections guaranteed under the country’s labour laws.
The union further demanded government intervention in the dispute surrounding workers’ unionisation at Abuja Continental Hotel in Abuja.
It said the right of workers to join trade unions and participate in collective bargaining must be respected by employers.
The congress urged the government to ensure that commitments reached during the conciliation process were implemented without further delay.
The TUC maintained that workers should be allowed to exercise their freedom of association without intimidation, victimisation or interference from employers.
The congress also expressed dissatisfaction with the delay in resolving outstanding issues involving the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), particularly commitments arising from an agreement signed in late 2025, as stated in its letter.
It warned that the failure to implement agreed terms was damaging trust between the parties and creating unnecessary tension in the health sector.
“Agreements freely entered into by parties must not be treated as mere formalities or abandoned without consequences,” the congress said.
It called for immediate government intervention to ensure that outstanding commitments were fulfilled and the dispute was resolved in a manner that would promote lasting industrial peace.
In a related development, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government in October, demanding action on petrol prices, minimum wage negotiations and other outstanding labour issues.
The NLC warned that failure to address its demands could lead to further action by organised labour.
The developments highlight the growing pressure on the Tinubu administration to address workers’ welfare concerns and prevent disagreements with labour unions from escalating into fresh industrial disputes.
The TUC said its proposed meeting with the SGF was necessary because the issues raised had implications for national security, economic stability, employment, industrial peace and the welfare of Nigerian workers.
It stressed that the engagement must produce a clear action plan, defined government commitments and specific deadlines for implementation.
“Dialogue must not become an instrument for postponing action or avoiding responsibility,” the congress warned, adding that workers’ patience should not be mistaken for indifference to their suffering or acceptance of prevailing conditions.
The letter was copied to the Chief of Staff to the President, the National Security Adviser, the Director-General of the DSS and the Minister of Labour and Employment.
