Labour Leaders Demand Economic Diversification, Stronger Worker Protections Amid Rising Job Losses

Labour leaders in Ilorin, Kwara State, have urged the Federal Government to diversify the economy and introduce people-oriented reforms to cushion the effects of job losses, precarious work conditions, and declining workers’ welfare.

The call was made at the 33rd Annual Industrial Relations Seminar of the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE), themed “Building Human Capacity for Enhancing Productivity and Personnel Welfare in the Midst of Economic Hardship.”

NUCFRLANMPE President, Bolarinwa Sunday, described the current economic climate as “herculean” for workers and employers alike, stressing that deliberate policy interventions were essential to drive productivity and welfare. According to him, growth can only be sustained through diversification, investments in infrastructure such as power and roads, FOREX stabilization, labour-inclusive recovery frameworks and policies that boost local manufacturing.

“Loss of employment as a result of redundancy exercise is on a daily basis while precarious work is replacing decent work” he said. He warned against the rising wave of casualisation, outsourcing, and contract staffing, calling them “obnoxious measures” by employers to undermine regular employment.

Sunday also raised alarm over alleged anti-labour practices by companies, particularly along the Lagos–Sagamu–Ibadan axis. He claimed many of these firms, largely owned by Chinese nationals, were operating “slave camps” where workers lived under military-style restrictions enforced by soldiers and police. “It’s not over until it is over; we are still strategizing through the NLC and the Ministry of Labour. The NLC President has made a categorical statement, and in time, they shall be called to order” he declared.

Echoing his concerns, President of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), Peter Godonu, emphasised that workers and their families are facing severe hardship driven by rising living costs, job insecurity and eroding purchasing power. He argued that productivity must go hand in hand with improved welfare, dignity of labour, and capacity development. “A well-trained, empowered, and motivated workforce is the surest guarantee for enhanced productivity and sustainable enterprise growth” he noted.

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Mohammed Maigari Dingyadi, represented by Mr. Orodiran of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, commended the union for sustaining the seminar. He said empowering workers with relevant skills and knowledge would enable them to navigate present-day challenges and contribute to national growth.

Similarly, the Director-General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Issa Aremu, called for the creation of a special fund through the NLC to subsidize workers’ education. “By doing this, they are not only building themselves but also building the nation” he said.