Nigeria’s world of work has become too large, too diverse, and too complex to be effectively represented by only two labour centres, namely the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
While both organizations have played historic and commendable roles in defending workers’ rights, promoting social justice, and advancing democracy, the realities of the 21st-century labour market require a broader, more inclusive and more representative labour movement.
Today, Nigeria has over 200 million people, a rapidly expanding workforce, millions of informal sector workers, a growing digital economy, platform workers, professionals, artisans, transport workers, agricultural labourers, migrant workers, freelancers, and numerous emerging categories of employees whose interests may not always be fully captured by the existing labour structure. It is therefore both reasonable and necessary to advocate for the establishment and recognition of additional labour centres in Nigeria.
ILO Principles Support Freedom of Association
The strongest legal and moral foundation for this advocacy comes from the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise. Article 2 states that workers have the right to establish and join organizations “of their own choosing” without prior authorization. Article 5 further recognizes the right of workers’ organizations to establish and join federations and confederations.
The ILO explicitly regards the right of workers to form and join organizations of their own choosing as an essential component of a free and democratic society.
Therefore, advocating for additional labour centres is not an attack on the NLC or TUC. Rather, it is an affirmation of internationally recognized labour rights and democratic principles. The essence of freedom of association is choice, plurality, healthy competition, and workers’ ability to organize themselves according to their particular interests and aspirations.
Nigeria would not be entering uncharted territory if it permits the emergence of more labour centres. Many of the world’s leading democracies and economies have multiple labour federations and labour centres coexisting within the same industrial relations system.
United States
The United States has historically had multiple labour federations. The AFL-CIO is the largest labour federation, representing millions of workers across numerous affiliated unions. At the same time, alternative labour centres such as the Change to Win Federation (now operating as the Strategic Organizing Center) emerged to offer different organizational approaches and priorities.
The existence of multiple labour centres has not destroyed American labour relations. Instead, it has encouraged innovation, competition, specialization, and broader representation.
Ghana
Even the neighboring Ghana (here in West Africa) created room for multiple labour centres.
They have Trades Union Congress (Ghana) (TUC) – The largest and oldest central labour organization, comprising over 18 affiliated national unions across major economic sectors.
They also have Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) – Formed in 1998 as an alternative national centre representing several affiliated unions, particularly in manufacturing and trade.
Additionally, public sector employee groups—such as the FORUM for Public Sector Associations and Unions—operate as a registered federation representing key public service associations.
South Africa
South Africa provides perhaps the most compelling African example for Nigeria.
South African workers are represented by several labour federations, including:
COSATU, FEDUSA, NACTU and SAFTU
These federations coexist, advocate independently, and sometimes collaborate on matters affecting workers nationally.
Despite having multiple labour centres, South Africa remains one of Africa’s most advanced labour rights jurisdictions. Workers benefit from greater choice and wider representation across different sectors and ideological traditions.
ditsong
Other Countries
Many nations across Europe, Latin America, and Asia operate systems where multiple national labour centres coexist peacefully and effectively. Workers choose affiliations that best align with their professional interests, industrial sectors, and policy preferences.
The international trend is therefore not monopoly representation but pluralistic representation.
Nigeria’s labour landscape has changed dramatically from what existed several decades ago.
- Rapid Workforce Expansion
The workforce today is much larger than when the current labour framework was conceived.
Millions of workers have entered sectors that did not previously exist, including:
Information Technology
FinTech
E-commerce
Platform work
Ride-hailing services
Logistics services
Remote work
Digital content creation
Renewable energy
These emerging workers often have needs distinct from traditional sectors.
- Informal Sector Exclusion
A substantial percentage of Nigerians work in the informal economy.
Many artisans, market workers, agricultural labourers, domestic workers, transport operators, and self-employed workers remain insufficiently represented in traditional labour structures.
Additional labour centres would create pathways for these groups to organize and participate effectively in national labour discussions.
- Enhanced Democratic Representation
No single institution can perfectly represent every segment of society.
Just as democracy thrives through multiple political parties, the labour movement can benefit from multiple centres representing diverse viewpoints while pursuing the common objective of workers’ welfare.
- Avoiding Concentration of Power
Healthy institutions flourish when no single organization exercises unchecked dominance.
The existence of multiple labour centres encourages:
Accountability
Transparency
Internal democracy
Leadership renewal
Better policy development
Stronger advocacy
5. Sector-Specific Expertise
Different sectors face different challenges.
Civil servants, healthcare professionals, aviation personnel, university workers, technology workers, agricultural workers and transport workers may require specialized policy approaches. More labour centres would facilitate higher levels of expertise and focused advocacy.
Advantages of Additional Labour Centres
The creation of additional labour centres would produce significant benefits.
Better Worker Representation
More workers would find organizations that genuinely reflect their interests and aspirations.
Stronger Collective Bargaining
Additional centres would generate fresh ideas, stronger research capacity, and innovative bargaining strategies.
Increased Labour Participation
Workers who currently feel excluded may become more active participants in organized labour.
Enhanced Social Dialogue
Government would benefit from hearing a wider spectrum of worker perspectives before implementing major economic reforms.
Improved Policy Development
Competition among labour centres can improve the quality of policy proposals and worker welfare initiatives.
Greater Protection of Vulnerable Workers
Marginalized and underrepresented workers would have additional avenues for organizing and advocacy.
Industrial Peace
When workers feel represented and heard, disputes are more likely to be resolved through dialogue and institutional engagement.
Promotion of Innovation
Multiple labour centres create a marketplace of ideas that strengthens the labour movement as a whole.
Why President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Must Act Fast
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has repeatedly emphasized economic reforms, social inclusion, and institutional modernization. Labour sector reform should be an important component of this agenda.
The President has a historic opportunity to modernize Nigeria’s industrial relations system by embracing labour pluralism consistent with international standards.
Urgent action is required because:
The workforce is rapidly evolving.
New sectors are emerging.
Millions of workers remain underrepresented.
Economic reforms require broader worker participation.
Democratic inclusion is strengthened when workers have freedom of organizational choice.
Recognizing additional labour centres would not weaken the labour movement. On the contrary, it would broaden participation, deepen democracy, and strengthen workers’ confidence in the industrial labour ecosystem.
**Ngozi Amah-Okezie is a social commentator, writer and policy analyst.
