The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has warned that worsening insecurity, deepening poverty and rising economic hardship are pushing Nigerians, especially workers, to the brink of survival.
The union said the situation had deteriorated to the point where many citizens now prioritise survival over productivity, stressing that insecurity had crippled livelihoods, disrupted economic activities and forced thousands from their homes and communities.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said insecurity had become a national crisis affecting workers, businesses and even government operations. According to him, fear and uncertainty now define everyday life for many Nigerians, particularly those in rural communities dependent on farming for survival.
He said workers could no longer function effectively in an atmosphere of fear, displacement and violence, adding that many people had abandoned their farms and businesses due to growing attacks and insecurity. Ajaero noted that the inability of citizens to move freely had worsened unemployment and poverty across the country.
The labour leader also criticised the disconnect between government economic projections and the realities facing ordinary Nigerians. He argued that despite claims of economic growth, rising transportation costs, food prices and fuel prices had continued to erode the purchasing power of workers whose salaries remained unchanged.
Ajaero further lamented the burden of multiple taxes and levies on Nigerians, saying market women, commercial motorcycle operators and other informal workers now face increasing financial pressure before earning daily income. He added that alternatives such as Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, and electric vehicles had failed to provide relief because of poor infrastructure and limited accessibility.
On labour conditions and civic rights, the NLC president accused some employers of subjecting workers to harsh and unsafe environments while also condemning attempts to suppress peaceful protests. He said even security personnel had begun expressing frustration over economic hardship, describing it as evidence of the deepening national crisis.
Meanwhile, the NLC faulted comments by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, who insisted that the Federal Government would not return to fuel subsidy despite rising fuel prices and worsening living conditions. The union argued that government should instead adopt targeted interventions such as transport subsidies, tax relief on essential goods and support for local refineries to cushion the effects of global economic shocks on Nigerians.
Speaking during an engagement with investors in France, Oyedele maintained that the Presidency would not reintroduce fuel subsidy because it created economic distortions. He insisted that petrol prices should be determined by market forces, even as he acknowledged that global tensions and rising oil prices continued to impact Nigeria’s economy and cost of living.
