Labour Union Express Major Concerns over Current Education Crisis

Nigeria’s Organised Labour has warned that the country stands at a crossroads amid strikes in the education sector and deepening national challenges.

In a joint address at a May Day rally in Abuja, Presidents of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, framed the moment as both historic and urgent, declaring that “May Day is not just another date on the calendar; it is a reaffirmation of our collective strength and a renewed opportunity to build a fairer nation.”

The speech, delivered against the backdrop of ongoing strikes by non-teaching staff in tertiary institutions, underscored the centrality of workers to national development. “Without workers, no nation can be built,” the leaders said, describing Nigerian workers as the backbone of every sector from education and healthcare to energy and public service.

Particular attention was drawn to the education sector crisis, where stalled negotiations with the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have disrupted universities nationwide.

The labour leaders called on the federal government to “quickly expedite action” on renegotiations and settle outstanding issues, including withheld salaries and unpaid allowances.

“The non-teaching unions are integral members of the university system,” the speech emphasized. “On this auspicious day, government must put smiles on their faces,” they added, linking the strike to broader neglect of education and research.

The address painted a stark picture of a nation grappling with insecurity and poverty, warning that both are undermining the possibility of decent work.

“It is impossible to create meaningful employment where lives are under constant threat,” the leaders said, noting that rising violence and hardship are eroding livelihoods across the country.

They cited alarming figures, including a poverty rate approaching 65 percent and thousands displaced by violence, arguing that insecurity has made daily life commuting, working, even schooling, which they said it is a dangerous gamble for many Nigerians.

In a direct appeal to the government, the labour leaders stressed that security must be prioritized above all else. “There can be no meaningful progress under such conditions,” they said. “Security is the foundation upon which every other sector depends.”

The speech also criticized governance failures, pointing to what it described as weakening democratic institutions and lack of accountability.

The rapid approval of major loans and perceived judicial inconsistencies were cited as examples of systemic issues eroding public trust.

On the economy, the unions rejected official narratives of improvement, arguing that macroeconomic indicators fail to reflect lived realities. “The economy must serve the people, or it has failed in its most basic purpose,” they said, highlighting rising inequality and hardship among workers.

They called for a shift toward a production-driven economy that prioritizes local industry, job creation, and fair wages. “An economy that serves only the top one percent cannot be sustainable,” the two labour centres warned.

Energy sector challenges were also highlighted, with labour leaders decrying persistent power shortages and rising fuel costs. They described the current electricity framework as a failure and demanded a return to a people-centred model driven by public investment.

Despite the grim assessment, the labour movement struck a tone of resilience, insisting that workers remain united and prepared to act. “Our unity is our greatest weapon, our solidarity our strongest shield,” they declared.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the unions vowed to play an active role in shaping Nigeria’s political future. They urged workers to register, vote, and even contest for office, emphasizing that support would only go to candidates committed to workers’ welfare.

The speech also announced plans to renegotiate the national minimum wage by July 2026 and demanded interim measures to cushion workers from economic hardship, including full payment of basic salaries.

In a broader anti-corruption push, the labour movement unveiled a campaign titled “Stop the Bleeding,” aimed at tackling illicit financial flows and systemic corruption draining national resources. “Every stolen naira is a stolen future,” they declared.

The Labour leaders delivered a powerful message of collective responsibility and urgency. “The change we seek will not come from elsewhere, it must come from us,” they said, urging workers to move from endurance to action.

“Our nation can be saved,” they concluded. “But only by us. Only together. Only now.”