The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised the alarm over the country’s descent into authoritarian rule, citing a shrinking democratic space and sustained attacks on workers’ rights.
NLC President Joe Ajaero issued the warning on Monday during the opening ceremony of the 21st Rain School of the NLC, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, themed “Labour and Human Rights in a Shrinking Democratic Space.”
Ajaero described Nigeria as teetering on the edge of tyranny, with citizens, particularly the working class, facing severe restrictions on their rights to free speech, assembly, and participation in governance.
He accused the federal government and state governors of orchestrating a deliberate clampdown on civic freedoms and union activities to silence workers’ voices ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“This is a calculated effort to crush dissent and weaken democratic institutions,” Ajaero stated, further alleging that authorities were unlawfully seizing workers’ contributions, which he termed “stealing workers’ sweat.”
Ajaero criticised the government for prioritising 2027 election politicking over governance, leaving workers and ordinary Nigerians to grapple with economic hardship and rising insecurity caused by flawed policies. “Power games consume leaders who should be alleviating suffering,” he said, adding that in a healthy democracy, such actions would be “politically suicidal” due to robust accountability mechanisms.
He highlighted Nigeria’s ranking among the ten worst countries globally for workers’ rights violations, noting an inverse relationship between the abuse of human and workers’ rights and the state of democratic space. “As the democratic space shrinks, abuse of rights expands,” Ajaero warned. “A shrinking democratic space is a threat to workers, the masses, and our nation.”
The labour leader also decried the socio-economic framework, which he described as “riddled with suspicion,” producing negative outcomes for citizens. He called for urgent action to protect Nigeria’s democratic institutions and workers’ rights, emphasizing that the current trajectory undermines the nation’s future.
The NLC’s Rain School serves as a platform for labour leaders to strategize on advancing workers’ rights and democratic values, and Ajaero’s remarks underscore growing concerns about Nigeria’s political and economic direction.