Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has cautioned the National Assembly against removing labour provisions from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List in the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution.
According to the NLC, this move would “open the gates to slave wages across Nigeria” and pose an “existential threat” to trade unions and equitable industrial relations.
“We resisted this evil before. We will resist it again,” said Mrs. Funmi Sessi, Lagos State NLC Chairman.
The labour leader emphasized that the removal of labour provisions would allow state governors to institutionalize the abuse of workers’ fundamental rights.
The NLC also called for electoral reforms, including the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission and the unbundling of INEC into specialized agencies.
“The country needs an overhaul of our electoral laws now more than ever,” Sessi said.
The NLC demanded reforms to achieve gender equity, improve management of public revenue, strengthen security architecture, and make Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution justiciable.
They also called for judicial autonomy, local government autonomy, and socio-economic and cultural rights.
The Deputy Senate President, Sen. Jubrin Barau, assured that the labour demands would get quality attention from the Senate.
“We are here to listen to you and to listen to the people of Nigeria, collating all issues raised and reports back to the Nation Assembly,” Barau said.
