ITUC-Africa calls for urgent social justice reforms

The General Secretary of the African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa), Comrade Akhator Joel Odigie, has called for urgent reforms to address the worsening socio-economic crisis across Africa, citing the growing disparity between economic policies and industrial realities.

Speaking at the Tripartite High-Level Engagement of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) held at the United Nations House in Abuja, he underscored the need for a new social contract that prioritizes workers’ rights, industrial capacity, and energy justice.

At the heart of his speech, Comrade Odigie reaffirmed the ILO’s original mandate to confront injustices in workplaces, communities, and economies. He hailed the Global Coalition for Social Justice, initiated by the ILO, as a step in the right direction, but warned that Africa must move beyond policies that fail to address ground realities.

“We are excited. Comrade DG, thank you for the initiative: Global Coalition for Social Justice. But why are we excited? As organized labour in the continent and globally, we have been advocating for a new social contract. The current contract is not working!”

Odigie highlighted a fundamental mismatch between Nigeria’s economic and social policies, which, instead of improving livelihoods, often harm the very people they aim to help. While Nigeria boasts a robust industrial strategy, its industrial capacity does not reflect these policies, creating a frustrating disconnect.

“Nigeria has an industrial strategy that is very robust and imaginative. But these policies do not correlate with industrial capacity visualization that you see in the country.”

One of the biggest barriers to social justice and economic growth, according to Odigie, is Africa’s energy crisis. Without resolving this issue, industrialization will remain a distant dream.

“For our continent, our aspiration to industrialization is not one that we have negotiated well. But to get there, energy justice needs to be attained.”

Odigie also sounded the alarm on climate change, warning that failure to tackle the crisis would render all economic aspirations meaningless.

“As you speak today, the climate crisis is a big one that we must really, really deal with. Because if we don’t, we say at the ITUC that there are no jobs on a dead planet!”

He condemned the failure of COP29, calling it a fiasco that did not deliver for Africa. However, instead of lamenting, he urged for solutions driven by collaborative efforts among governments, businesses, and civil society.

Bringing the discussion back home, Odigie criticized the delays in implementing Nigeria’s minimum wage despite the government’s swift action in other policy areas.

“You see here in Nigeria, where policy restrictions are done and the next minute, implementation starts. Sometimes the implementation starts at inauguration. But when it comes to minimum wage, implementation drags. How do you want the worker to survive when the wages cannot take anybody home?”

Odigie stressed that Africa’s socioeconomic crisis is unbearable, and immediate social safety nets are needed—especially for women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. He called for a structured, continent-wide approach to aggregating social protection policies.

“There must be a safety net that empowers people, critically so for women, other vulnerable groups, disabled persons, the elderly, children. They need a social safety net to bring them up across the board.”

Concluding his speech, Odigie lamented that Africa has yet to fully benefit from past industrial revolutions, yet now faces the challenge of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (digitalisation). He, however, remained optimistic, emphasizing that Africa must define its own role in shaping a future that works for all.

“We just have to agree. What is the role for all of us, coming together, charting a policy prescription, an idea, and a sense of direction that works for everybody?”

For Odigie, the fight for decent jobs is not just about economics—it is about human dignity. As Africa pushes for fairer economic systems, he urged leaders, policymakers, and labour unions to rise to the challenge and take bold action.

Odigie’s call echoed the need for Africa to redefine its economic policies, ensure energy justice, tackle climate change, implement effective social safety nets, and secure decent wages for workers.

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