Govt should not neglect workers in 2026 —NASU president, Makolo

IN this interview with CHRISTIAN APPOLOS, the national president of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Dr. Makolo Hassan, reflects on the experience of NASU members in 2025, raises concerns over the government’s handling of workers’ welfare, and warns government and its officials against neglecting labour issues as Nigeria enters a heated pre-election year. He also speaks on the proposed tax reforms, widening inequality, and the strategic direction of the union in 2026.

LOOKING back at 2025, how would you assess the overall experience of NASU members, particularly in terms of government engagement, treatment of workers, and responsiveness to the union’s demands?

For the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), the year 2025 will be remembered as one marked by deep frustration, unfulfilled promises, and prolonged uncertainty for our members across Nigeria’s tertiary and allied institutions.

It was a year when NASU members went to work daily carrying not just their files and tools, but also the heavy burden of neglect, anxiety, and diminishing hope. Despite repeated engagements, formal memoranda, and structured dialogue with relevant government agencies, the response from government remained largely lethargic, slow-paced, and unconvincing.

One of the most painful reminders of this neglect is the unresolved renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement, an agreement that speaks directly to the dignity, welfare, and conditions of service of NASU members. For several years now, this agreement has remained in limbo; endlessly discussed, frequently promised, but never fully commenced or implemented. Each delay translates to stagnant wages, eroded benefits, and workers being compelled to survive rising inflation with yesterday’s promises.

Beyond this, our members faced confusion and inconsistency surrounding retirement age policies, with implementation differing from one institution to another. This has created unnecessary tension, uncertainty, and in some cases outright injustice, where workers performing the same duties are treated differently simply due to administrative arbitrariness.

At the workplace level, NASU members continued to endure undue interference in trade union activities by some institutional managements, persistent delays in the payment of duly earned salaries and allowances, and long-standing promotion stagnation. For many workers today, promotion is no longer a reward for years of service, commitment, and competence, but a distant dream buried under layers of bureaucracy and indifference.

What is most worrisome is not merely the existence of these challenges, but the attitude of the government in addressing them. The lack of urgency, poor follow-through, and in some cases complete silence on critical labour issues suggest a troubling disconnect between policy makers and the lived realities of Nigerian workers.

2026 is already here. What are NASU’s expectations from the government in terms of concrete policy actions, improved labour relations, and protection of workers’ rights? If these expectations are not met, what strategic line of action is NASU prepared to take?

The dawn of 2026 presents the government with a crucial opportunity to reset its relationship with Nigerian workers, particularly NASU members who form the backbone of our educational, research, and allied institutions.

Our expectations are clear, reasonable, and achievable. First and foremost, the government must commence in earnest the renegotiation and full implementation of the 2009 Agreement. Agreements are not ceremonial documents meant for archives or press releases; they are binding commitments entered into in good faith. When agreements are repeatedly ignored or delayed, it erodes trust, undermines industrial harmony, and weakens confidence in governance.

Secondly, the government must urgently address the numerous workplace injustices confronting NASU members, including delayed salaries, unpaid allowances, promotion backlogs, and intimidation of union leaders by some management. Workers should never be forced to choose between exercising their constitutional right to unionism and securing their livelihoods.

We also expect genuine engagement, not dialogue conducted merely for optics or crisis containment. Sustainable labour relations thrive on sincerity, consistency, transparency, and mutual respect. The government must move away from reactive crisis management and adopt proactive labour governance that anticipates challenges and resolves them before they escalate.

However, let me be clear: NASU is a disciplined but resolute union. While we remain committed to dialogue and peaceful engagement, we will not shy away from deploying all lawful and democratic means to protect the interests of our members if the government fails to do the needful. This includes industrial actions, legal redress, strategic alliances within the broader labour movement, and sustained national advocacy.

Industrial peace cannot be achieved by silencing workers or ignoring their demands; it is achieved by listening to them and acting responsibly and decisively.

With 2026 shaping up as a year of intense political campaigning, are you concerned that governance and attention to workers’ welfare may be sidelined?

This concern is not hypothetical; it is firmly grounded in Nigeria’s political history and experience. Election seasons often come with a dangerous shift in priorities, where governance takes a back seat to political calculations, alliances, and survival strategies.

Yes, we are genuinely worried that as political campaigns intensify, workers’ welfare may be pushed aside and treated as an inconvenient issue to be revisited after elections. However, I want to use this platform to issue a strong, respectful, and timely appeal to government and political actors at all levels: do not neglect Nigerian workers.

Workers are not spectators in the political process; they are central stakeholders and decisive voters. They are teachers, laboratory technologists, clerical officers, artisans, health workers, and administrators who keep institutions running even when the system itself is failing them.

Any government or political actor who undermines workers’ welfare does so at their own peril. The Nigerian worker is politically conscious and increasingly aware of the power of the ballot. Welfare policies or the lack thereof will inevitably influence electoral choices and political outcomes.

There is growing anxiety over the proposed new tax law. What is NASU’s position, and what advice do you offer the government?

Let us put the facts on the table. Nigerian workers are the most compliant taxpayers in this country. Long before debates about tax reforms gained prominence, workers’ taxes have been deducted at source with precision, consistency, and minimal resistance.

For years, while the government lamented tax evasion by corporations and wealthy individuals, it was the ordinary worker who faithfully carried the tax burden. NASU is not opposed to tax reform in principle; however, reforms must be fair, transparent, and must not worsen the already severe economic hardship faced by workers.

From the analysis available to us, we note that workers on the minimum wage and those earning up to ₦1.2 million annually are exempted, while those earning up to ₦20 million receive some relief. While this appears progressive on paper, our concern is that this reform may become a case of “the more you see, the less you understand.”

The controversies surrounding the Acts raise serious questions about implementation, transparency, administrative capacity, and unintended consequences. NASU’s position is straightforward: any attempt to shift additional economic burden onto workers, whether directly or indirectly, will be firmly resisted.

Our advice to the government is to broaden the tax net, block revenue leakages, recover looted public funds, and compel large corporations and high-net-worth individuals to pay their fair share, rather than squeezing workers whose purchasing power has already been decimated by inflation.

An Oxfam report ranks Nigeria among African countries with alarming inequality. From labour’s perspective, what is driving this trend, and what must be done?

Inequality in Nigeria is not an accident; it is the predictable outcome of sustained policy failure, corruption, weak institutions, and mismanagement of national resources. Today, a tiny fraction of the population controls enormous wealth, while millions struggle daily to afford basic necessities.

Workers labour relentlessly, yet their wages barely sustain them. This is not merely an economic crisis; it is a moral indictment of governance and national priorities.

Nigeria is a resource-rich country, but those resources are too often misappropriated instead of being invested in social welfare, quality education, accessible healthcare, infrastructure, and inclusive job creation. The result is widening inequality, social tension, and deepening poverty.

From the labour movement’s standpoint, reversing this trend requires bold, people-centred policies. The government must prioritize job creation. not just jobs for the privileged or politically connected, but decent jobs accessible to all, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or social background.

Employment opportunities must be based on merit, fairness, and inclusivity, not patronage or favoritism. Welfare policies must be strengthened, and workers’ incomes must reflect the harsh economic realities they face.

Social justice cannot exist in a society where workers produce wealth but remain poor. Restoring balance requires political will, accountability, and a genuine commitment to the Nigerian people.

For NASU, this struggle is not abstract; it is deeply personal. It is about the laboratory assistant who cannot pay school fees, the administrative officer waiting endlessly for promotion, and the worker approaching retirement with uncertainty rather than dignity.

As we move deeper into 2026, NASU remains committed to peaceful engagement, principled struggle, and unwavering advocacy. But one thing is certain: the Nigerian worker will no longer suffer in silence.

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