The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday announced it would hold an emergency meeting to deliberate on the contentious Nigeria Social Security Trust Fund (NSSTF) bill that has scaled its second reading at the Nigerian Senate.
The notice was issued in Abuja by the union’s spokesperson, Benson Upah, who disclosed that the sole agenda of the hastily convened gathering would be to examine the bill seeking to overhaul the existing NSITF Act.
Naijaonpoint reports that tension around the bill intensified after the organised private sector joined labour to reject it, claiming it would benefit the government to the detriment of workers and stakeholders.
Speaking on Wednesday, Upah did not hold back as he slammed the proposal, telling Daily Post: “We are strongly opposed to the bill. It is ill-motivated, ill-advised and will spell doom for the letter and spirit of what NSITF ought to be.”
He warned that the bill could dismantle the original intent of the social insurance scheme and deliver long-term consequences for Nigerian workers.
Business groups had earlier echoed similar concerns, insisting the bill was structured to favour government interests over employee welfare.
The bill seeks to repeal the current Act and replace it with the Nigeria Social Security Trust Fund Act 2025, a restructuring strongly viewed by critics as a gateway for increased government control.
The amendment was sponsored by a senator of the All Progressives Congress (APC) representing Ekiti State in the 10th Nigerian National Assembly, Fasuyi Cyril.
He serves in the 10th National Assembly, representing his constituency as part of the ruling party caucus.
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