LABOUR CRISIS AS ITUC RANKS NIGERIA AMONG 10 WORST COUNTRIES FOR WORKERS’ RIGHTS.
ABUJA / BENIN CITY.
Nigeria has been ranked among the 10 worst countries in the world for workers’ rights in the 2026 Global Rights Index released by the International Trade Union Confederation, ITUC.
The report paints a grim picture of attacks on trade union independence, arbitrary arrests, intimidation, and union-busting.
WHAT THE REPORT FOUND
The ITUC assesses about 150 countries annually on freedom to organize, collective bargaining, right to strike, and free speech.
For 2026, ITUC said conditions are the worst recorded since the index was established.
Nigeria’s case was linked partly to events in Edo State:
- In December 2024, the Edo State Government allegedly occupied the NLC Secretariat in Benin City with police and hired thugs. The building was locked and an alternative leadership was imposed.
- In August 2025, the Edo State House of Assembly passed a motion urging NLC to halt plans to inaugurate a caretaker committee, despite lacking authority over the union. When NLC officials arrived, they met the secretariat still locked and surrounded by security.
LABOUR REACTION
Labour leaders say the ranking confirms what workers have been saying: that both government and some employers are cracking down on unions.
NLC officials argue that interfering in union leadership violates ILO conventions Nigeria has signed. They are calling for:
Immediate reopening of the Edo NLC secretariat
Prosecution of those who used thugs against workers
Protection for workers who want to strike or protest
GOVERNMENT DEFENSE
The Federal Government, speaking during Democracy Day events, insisted Nigeria is “steadily emerging from economic fragility” and that reforms under Renewed Hope are laying foundation for prosperity.
Minister of Information Mohammed Idris said 27 years of uninterrupted democracy reflects Nigerians’ determination to uphold democratic values.
However, critics say economic reforms without workers’ rights protections will worsen hardship. This comes as former VP Atiku recently described UN projections of 35 million Nigerians facing acute hunger as a “human tragedy”.
WHAT IT MEANS
A poor ITUC ranking can affect Nigeria’s trade deals, especially with EU and US who have labor clauses. It may also discourage foreign companies that care about ESG ratings.