The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has strongly opposed ongoing moves in the National Assembly to amend the 1999 Constitution and transfer labour matters—including the determination of the national minimum wage—from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List, where individual states would set their own wage structures.
At the first Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference of the TUC Lagos State Council, held this week, the union’s President-General, Comrade Festus Osifo, condemned the proposal as anti-worker, retrogressive, and dangerous to the unity of the Nigerian labour movement.
In his address, Osifo described the bill as a threat to the rights of Nigerian workers and vowed that the union would mobilize its members nationwide to resist its passage.
“The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria strongly and categorically rejects this dangerous bill and will resist it with every lawful means at our disposal.
All state councils are hereby placed on red alert and must be ready to act promptly upon receiving directives from the national headquarters,” Osifo said.
He urged state chapters not to hesitate in escalating unresolved industrial disputes to the national secretariat, assuring members that the TUC would intervene as a united front to protect workers’ welfare.
According to Osifo, placing labour issues on the Concurrent List would fragment wage negotiations across 36 states, weaken collective bargaining power, and expose workers to unfair treatment by state governments already struggling with regular salary payments.
Labour unions in Nigeria have long maintained that issues such as the minimum wage must remain within the purview of the federal government to ensure national standards.
The National Minimum Wage Act, which currently guarantees workers a basic wage across the country, has been a product of intense negotiations between organised labour, employers, and government representatives.
Removing labour from the Exclusive List, critics argue, could create wide wage disparities between states, especially given Nigeria’s uneven economic development.
Wealthier states may afford better salaries, while poorer states may fix wages below living standards, eroding workers’ rights and worsening poverty levels.
Speaking on the theme of the Lagos conference, “Trade Union Independence and Discipline: The Shield of Workers’ Rights and Dignity”, the President of the Precious Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA), Comrade Sesan Rufus, stressed that independence is the lifeblood of trade unionism.
He warned that without independence, unions would lose their voice and the courage to defend workers effectively.
“Union independence means freedom from undue political interference, corporate manipulation, or state suppression.
It ensures unions can negotiate, advocate, and challenge unjust systems without fear or compromise,” Rufus said.
He also highlighted the need for financial discipline within trade unions to reduce overreliance on government or private sponsorship, which could undermine their autonomy.
Analysts note that the TUC’s strong stance reflects growing concerns about the state of workers’ welfare in Nigeria, particularly against the backdrop of rising inflation, fuel subsidy removal, and the soaring cost of living.
Many workers are already struggling with inadequate wages, unpaid salaries in some states, and job insecurity.
If passed, the proposed constitutional amendment could further erode workers’ bargaining power, making it more difficult for unions like the TUC and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to negotiate nationally binding wage agreements.
Labour experts also warn that such decentralisation may weaken the ability of unions to mount effective industrial actions since disputes and negotiations would become fragmented along state lines.
Delegates at the conference called for greater solidarity and principled discipline to shield workers from exploitation.
They emphasised that the conference should mark the beginning of a new phase in workers’ struggles for fair treatment, equity, and respect for human dignity in the workplace.
The TUC reiterated that any attempt to tamper with labour’s place on the Exclusive Legislative List would be resisted through robust advocacy, lawful protests, and industrial action if necessary.
As Nigeria’s socio-economic crisis deepens, labour unions are positioning themselves to play a more assertive role in shaping national policies, insisting that workers cannot be made the scapegoats of economic reforms.
With the September legislative sessions approaching, all eyes will be on the National Assembly to see whether it presses ahead with the controversial bill—or bows to growing pressure from organised labour and civil society groups.