Nigeria’s Breaking Point: Workers, Unions, and the Battle Against Insecurity and Poverty
Nigerian trade unions protesting rising insecurity in the country. Source - Industriall Global Union
A Nation in Distress
Nigeria is unraveling under the weight of compounding crises; rising insecurity, widespread poverty, and an unrelenting cost-of-living catastrophe. Workers across the country are crying out for dignity, stability, and protection. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the country’s largest trade union federation, recently issued a strong warning to the federal government: either act now or face nationwide mass action.
Their demand is simple yet urgent; end the violence, protect livelihoods, and restore the basic economic rights of ordinary Nigerians. In a statement issued in July 2025, the NLC described the national mood as one of fear and hunger, with rising insecurity keeping farmers away from their lands, thus accelerating food scarcity and economic despair.
Nigeria Labour Congress: The Voice of the People
Established in 1978, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) represents over 4 million workers from more than 43 affiliate unions spanning sectors like education, manufacturing, healthcare, and public services. As the country's most influential labour federation, the NLC has historically played a pivotal role in defending the rights of workers often facing state repression in the process. Its leadership under Comrade Joe Ajaero has become increasingly vocal in confronting the government’s inability to manage deepening insecurity and inflation.
Their partner in action, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), represents senior-level professionals and complements the NLC’s efforts in demanding a living wage, safer working conditions, and more accountability from the political elite. Together, the NLC and TUC form the beating heart of labour resistance in Nigeria.
Insecurity as Economic Sabotage
Nigeria’s economic instability cannot be separated from its security crisis. In regions like the Middle Belt and northern Nigeria, attacks by bandits, extremist groups, and inter-communal militias have rendered agricultural activities nearly impossible. According to the NLC, more than 700,000 lives have been lost due to violence in the past year alone. Farmers are abandoning their fields. Food prices are skyrocketing.
This insecurity bleeds into every sector. Healthcare workers fear for their lives, educators struggle to teach amid chaos, and transport workers risk abduction every day. It is not merely a question of national security; it is a question of survival for Nigeria’s working class.
Hunger and Inflation: The True Face of the Cost-of-Living Crisis
In 2024, the government’s removal of fuel subsidies and the devaluation of the naira sent shockwaves through the economy. Food inflation soared past 23%, with transport and electricity costs more than doubling. More than 33 million Nigerians now face food insecurity.
Public servants and pensioners report unpaid wages. Hospitals and schools operate on skeletal budgets. For the average Nigerian worker, surviving a month has become a question of skipping meals and juggling debts. This is what the NLC calls “an engineered crisis”, created by economic mismanagement and maintained by political indifference.
In this context, the 2024 nationwide strike, coordinated by the NLC and TUC, forced the federal government to raise the national minimum wage to ₦70,000(45.79$). But with inflation surging and insecurity escalating, that increase has lost most of its real value.
The Youth Factor and the Collapse of Hope
Nigeria’s youth, comprising over 60% of the population, have been hit hardest. Youth unemployment officially stands at over 53%, but the real figures are likely higher. Job schemes such as the N-Power programme have collapsed under allegations of mismanagement, leaving millions stranded.
Meanwhile, a new class of desperate Nigerians now depend on humanitarian aid and food charities. In late 2024, dozens were killed in stampedes during food distributions; grim evidence of the hunger now stalking urban and rural populations alike.
A Broken Social Contract
The NLC warns that unless the federal government acts decisively, the fabric of Nigeria’s democracy will continue to erode. What is unfolding is not just a crisis of food and fuel, but of legitimacy. Workers and unions are demanding a new social contract; one that prioritises safety, dignity, and economic justice over elite interests.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) have all raised similar alarms, calling for inclusive development, stronger public services, and immediate wage reviews.
What Must Be Done
To prevent national collapse, workers are demanding a five-point action plan:
Immediate state of emergency on insecurity, especially in agricultural regions.
Inflation-targeted wage policies that adjust automatically with price levels.
Restoration of subsidies on essential commodities, particularly food and transport.
Reinvestment in public education and health, with protection for union organising.
Labour-inclusive economic planning, ensuring workers have a seat at the policy table.
Conclusion: A Crossroads for Nigeria’s Future
Nigeria is at a tipping point. The country’s most powerful unions, led by the NLC and TUC are not just organising for higher pay; they are organising for survival. Insecurity, hunger, and economic despair cannot be tackled in silos. They are interconnected, systemic issues that demand bold, people-centred solutions.
A nation that fails to feed its people, secure its streets, and pay its workers is not a nation; it’s a ticking time bomb. The time for cosmetic solutions is over. Mass action may be inevitable, but it is not too late for the government to listen, act, and rebuild trust with its most vital constituency: the working people of Nigeria.
References
Vanguard Nigeria, “NLC threatens mass action over rising poverty, insecurity” –Link
Reuters, “Nigeria’s hunger crisis deepens with 33 million at risk” – Link
AP News, “Why at least 67 people died in Nigeria food charity stampede” – Link
IndustriALL Global Union, “Nigerian unions protest cost of living crisis” – Link