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Two union leaders, Andrew Emelieze and Itoro Obong, have addressed a letter to the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United Nations (UN) regarding the alleged mistreatment of workers by the Nigerian government.
Emelieze previously served as the chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Oyo State, while Obong holds the position of vice chairman in the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State chapter.
The pair are the heads of the Federal Workers’ Forum (FWF), the platform from which they issued the letter.
The correspondence, co-signed by Emelieze and Obong, was made public to journalist in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
They also informed both the public and the ILO about their intention to stage an indefinite protest against the alleged inadequate treatment of workers by the Nigerian state, scheduled to commence on April 22, 2025.
In their letter, they stated: “We are members of the Federal Workers Forum, which represents a labour movement and advocacy group for federal employees in Nigeria.
Our membership spans all sectors of the federal public service in Nigeria, excluding political office holders. “We wish to highlight the long-standing exploitation of Nigerian workers by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Over time, governments at all levels have merely paid lip service to the welfare of Nigerian workers.
“The executive branch has imposed harsh conditions on workers through detrimental policies, while our legislature, the National Assembly, and other regional assemblies have failed to enact laws that support decent work and wages. Our judiciary has also not delivered justice for Nigerian workers. The current government has not deviated from the previous administration's approach. Workers are treated as unimportant, enduring contempt and profound disrespect.”
The letter further stated: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s current administration has been exceptionally unjust and antagonistic towards Nigerian workers.
Despite persistently low salaries, President Tinubu and his administration have targeted workers through anti-labour policies, as evidenced by increases in fuel prices, intentional devaluation of the naira, and a rise in costs amidst double-digit inflation.
The conditions for Nigerian workers are becoming unbearable under President Tinubu, who appears disinterested in their well-being.”
