The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has condemned the newly approved National Industrial Relations Policy (NIRP), describing it as a veiled attempt by the federal government to criminalise strike actions and suppress trade unionism.
The policy, which was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on July 31, 2025, is designed to promote structured dialogue, reduce industrial disputes, and align Nigeria’s labour practices with international standards.
Announcing the approval, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the policy would serve as a guide for trade unions, employers, and government institutions, helping to foster stable industrial relations across the country.
However, in a statement issued on Saturday, NLC President Joe Ajaero described the development as “reprehensible and shocking,” accusing the government of targeting strike actions while ignoring a wide range of pressing labour issues.
“We are in shock that from a catalogue of hundreds of workplace issues contained in the National Industrial Relations Policy, the federal government singled out industrial strikes as its headache,” Ajaero said.
He further alleged that earlier drafts of the policy included provisions aimed at criminalising strike actions—proposals that were resisted and rejected by representatives of organised labour, employers, and the Federal Ministry of Labour during consultations.
Ajaero argued that any policy seeking to undermine the constitutional and legal rights of workers to organise and withdraw their services was not only unacceptable but also unlawful.
“The right of a worker and trade unions to withdraw their services is fundamental and inalienable,” he said. “The NLC and organised labour in Nigeria condemn and reject this new law in industrial relations. It is inferior to the Constitution and the Trade Union Act.”
The NLC president warned that the congress would remain vigilant in protecting the rights and freedoms of Nigerian workers and resist any attempt to erode them under the guise of policy reform.
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