TUC Highlights $120bn Funding Gap for Nigeria’s Federal Roads

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has revealed that Nigeria needs an estimated $120 billion to construct and rehabilitate its federal road network — a staggering figure that is approximately four times the country’s current annual budget.

At the second edition of the TUC South-West Summit 2025 held in Lagos on Monday, TUC President-General Festus Osifo highlighted the massive infrastructure funding gap facing Nigeria, citing a 2013 study that placed the total cost of federal road construction at $120 billion.


Osifo noted that Nigeria’s current federal budget, ranging between $30 billion and $35 billion, is already largely committed to essential sectors including salaries, education, healthcare, and defence. “If constructing all our roads will cost $120 billion, and our budget is only $30 billion, it means we need four times our budget just to fix roads, without paying salaries or funding education or healthcare,” he stated.

The union leader blamed this severe underfunding on weak political leadership and a failure to diversify the economy beyond oil. “We must grow our revenue base and stop pretending that oil alone can sustain this country,” Osifo emphasized.



Osifo criticized successive governments for their inability to harness Nigeria’s vast agricultural and solid mineral resources. He stressed that many political leaders at the state and local government levels lack the initiative and vision required to drive development. “Many local government chairmen only show up when allocations arrive. Leadership must be proactive and innovative for the benefit of the people,” he said.

He contrasted Nigeria’s performance with countries having smaller land masses and fewer resources that have successfully developed their agriculture sectors, generating more revenue than Nigeria does from oil exports.

Representing Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo, acknowledged the TUC’s concerns and called for enhanced partnerships between government and organised labour. He highlighted the underutilization of Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in securing export markets for local produce and manufactured goods.

“Collaboration is key,” Ayantayo said. “We must invest in skills development, fair wages, and policies that address inflation and the rising cost of living.”

He reiterated Lagos State’s commitment to workers’ welfare and productivity growth, stressing the importance of innovation in improving the economy.


The TUC South-West Summit 2025, themed “Collaborate to Transform: Building Capacity for Regional Excellence and Workers’ Welfare,” gathered labour leaders, government officials, and private sector experts. Discussions included topics such as agriculture, leadership, communication, emotional intelligence, and the role of artificial intelligence in the workplace.


In his closing remarks, Osifo warned that Nigeria’s economic future depends on bold leadership capable of bridging the huge infrastructure funding gap. “The $120 billion needed to fix our roads is not just a number but a reflection of how far behind we are,” he concluded. “Only innovative leadership can transform this challenge into an opportunity.”