NLC President Warns Against Criminalising Strikes, Calls for Judicial Protection of Workers’ Rights

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has warned that continued criminalisation of strikes and excessive reliance on legal technicalities could weaken public confidence in the judiciary.

Ajaero spoke at the 4th International Labour Arbitration and Adjudication Forum in Abuja, where he stressed that the judiciary must uphold its moral and constitutional responsibility to protect workers from exploitation. He said labour rights are fundamental human rights and should not be treated as privileges subject to political or corporate interests.

According to him, the global industrial relations environment is increasingly shaped by precarious employment conditions and a “race to the bottom” that sacrifices labour protections in the name of attracting investment. He noted that workers’ experiences of court rulings often differ from official narratives.

The NLC president cautioned against using technical interpretations of the law to legalise unfair dismissals or criminalise industrial action, warning that courts risk being perceived as complicit in injustice when they restrict unions from organising or embarking on strikes.

He urged trade unions to intensify efforts in educating members about their rights, describing ignorance as a major barrier to accessing justice. Ajaero also called on employers in both public and private sectors to demonstrate genuine compliance with labour standards and international conventions.

Written by Adeyemi Adewale