The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of failing to engage with organised labour, describing the government as aloof and disconnected from the congress.
Ajaero made the allegation on Saturday during the latest episode of the Mic On Podcast, while recounting the events that led to the NLC’s planned nationwide protest in December 2025.
He said the congress had made several attempts to open discussions with the Federal Government but received no response to its correspondence to Tinubu between May and December 2025.
“For the past two to three years, it’s not government that is engaging. This government doesn’t engage,” Ajaero said.
The NLC president said the government only responded when labour unions took steps to express their grievances publicly, adding that the administration had become detached from the congress.
“It’s only when people engage; they now say A, B, C, D. So they are aloof,” he said.
Ajaero said the congress eventually fixed December 17, 2025, for a street protest after its efforts to reach the president failed.
He, however, disclosed that some state governors intervened following the planned demonstration, leading to a meeting between the labour leaders and the governors.
According to him, the intervention resulted in an interface with the government, but engagements since then have been limited.
“And after that, some governors intervened, and we had an interface. So some governors met with us, and since that time, we have talked once or twice,” he said.
Ajaero alleged that the government had since continued with its activities without addressing the issues raised by organised labour.
“And those issues, from December last year to now, they are just doing their business. Everybody is their enemy,” he added.
His comments come amid renewed labour tensions following a three-day warning strike by public servants under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC).
The council had threatened industrial action if the Federal Government failed to reduce petrol prices to N500 per litre and approve a new wage award for workers.
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