NIRP strike ban: Workers’ right to strike fundamental, inalienable — Ajaero

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly reiterated its condemnation of the Federal Government’s statement that the newly adopted National Industrial Relations Policy (NIRP) is aimed at reducing frequent industrial actions, particularly strikes by trade unions, describing such a stance as “very reprehensible” and an affront to workers’ rights.

The Federal government had, at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on July 31, 2025, announced that the new policy would help curtail industrial unrest in the country.

But further on  the issue in Abuja, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, decried that the government singled out strikes as its primary concern from “a catalogue of hundreds of workplace issues” contained in the policy.

“We are in shock that from a catalogue of hundreds of workplace issues contained in the National Industrial Relations Policy, the Federal Government singled out industrial strikes as its headache. The unfortunate press statement exposes the mindset of those who were elected to protect the interests of the ordinary citizen, including workers,” Ajaero said.

The labour leader also condemned what he described as the government’s “penchant to use strong-arm tactics to overturn popular decisions reached through a process of tripartism and social dialogue.”

According to him: “there had been earlier attempts during the policy’s development to insert clauses criminalising strike actions, but such proposals were rejected by trade unions, employers, and even the Ministry of Labour as inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution and the Trade Unions Act—both of which recognise the right of trade unions to withdraw their services in line with the law.

“It appears to us that there are personalities in the corridors of power who want to enjoy the fruits of constitutional governance and, at the same time, reject the principles of constitutionality, the rule of law, and respect for international labour standards.”.

He stressed that the right of workers and trade unions to strike is “fundamental and inalienable”, adding that any attempt to undermine it runs contrary to Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees and international obligations.

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“That a government is celebrating the clandestine insertion of such a toxic clause in a National Industrial Relations Policy, which, anyway, is inferior to the Constitution and Trade Union Act, reveals the depth of mischief that some people in government can sink just to feed their fantasy on chains and whips,” he said.

While condemning and rejecting the clause, Ajaero assured Nigerian workers that the Congress remains vigilant in protecting “the rights, interests and hard-won industrial liberties guaranteed by the Constitution, labour laws and international standards to which Nigeria is signatory.”

“This NIRP controversy now sets the stage for a potential fresh confrontation between organised labour and the Federal Government, with the right to strike emerging as the latest flashpoint in Nigeria’s turbulent industrial relations landscape.” he added.