The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has launched a strong critique against Vice President Kashim Shettima, accusing him of promoting lawlessness and undermining the rule of law by siding with capitalists in a dispute with workers.
The condemnation was delivered by NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, in a message marking the 2025 Decent Work Day.
Ajaero described the Vice President’s recent comments on the conflict between the Dangote Group and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) as “a national tragedy” and an “affront to the rule of law.” He asserted that the government’s stance signals that “capital, when sufficiently concentrated, is above the law.”
The NLC president questioned the government’s position, asking, “what do you expect the unions to do when you, the State, abdicate your primary responsibility of protecting citizens and instead look the other way while capitalist entities rape and violate the people?” He warned that by encouraging such “lawlessness,” the government is fostering a disdain for national institutions and emboldening forces of impunity.
Ajaero insisted that no company in Nigeria is above the law and accused the Dangote Group of violating employees’ freedom of association and undermining the principles of Decent Work, despite benefiting from various state concessions. He cautioned that it is dangerous to frame legitimate union activities as sabotage and urged the government to protect workers instead of aligning with powerful employers.
Calling for strict enforcement of labour laws, Ajaero demanded an end to the “sacred cow syndrome,” emphasizing that the protection of vulnerable workers must remain a national priority. He stated that no nation can achieve genuine development while repressing workers’ rights and promoting inequality.
Marking Decent Work Day, the NLC president called on both government and private employers to uphold the four pillars of decent work: job creation, social protection, rights at work, and social dialogue. He concluded by stating that the principles of decent work are being systematically undermined by both government agencies and private employers, an action he described as sabotaging the nation’s industrialization and economic diversification efforts.
