….Calls It “War on Workers, warns of nationwide strike,
…Threatens to halt fund remittances, accuses lawmakers of plotting to hijack workers’ social security
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has accused the National Assembly of launching a “declaration of war” on Nigerian workers through the proposed Nigeria Social Security Trust Fund (NSSTF) Bill, which it says is designed to seize control of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and convert it into a “political slush fund.”
In a strongly worded petition to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, NLC President Joe Ajaero condemned the bill as “a brazen and unpatriotic act of class warfare,” warning that the Congress will mobilise workers and civil society allies for a nationwide strike if the bill is not withdrawn.
According to the petition titled “That NSSTF Bill: A Betrayal of Our Collective Trust,” dated October 27, 2025, the NLC described the proposal as a deliberate attempt by certain interests in government to “expropriate and plunder the collective wealth of the working class.”
“The NSSTF Bill is an enemy of social justice, a grave assault on the principles of tripartism, and a declaration of war against the Nigerian worker,” Ajaero said. “It is not a reform but a calculated move to dismantle the existing tripartite governance structure of the NSITF and hand over workers’ funds to political appointees.”
The NLC accused the Senate of abandoning the long-delayed tripartite-reviewed Labour Administration Laws — which have been pending for over five years — while prioritising a bill it says undermines the rights and welfare of workers.
The Congress warned that if lawmakers proceed with the bill, it would issue a national directive to all workers and trade unions to immediately stop further deductions and remittances to the NSITF.
“Should the National Assembly proceed on this treacherous path of legalising the seizure of workers’ funds, we will have no option but to halt all deductions and mobilise a nationwide resistance,” the statement said.
The NLC maintained that the proposed legislation violates International Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 102, 144, and 87, which guarantee tripartite consultation and protect the independence of labour institutions.
It faulted provisions in the bill that seek to abolish the Independent Investment Committee of the NSITF, arguing that this would open the door to mismanagement and politically motivated spending.
“By replacing the tripartite board with a government-dominated structure, the bill effectively silences the very people for whom the fund exists,” the Congress said. “This represents an unacceptable dilution of workers’ voice and a betrayal of international labour standards.”
The NLC demanded that the Senate immediately halt deliberations on the bill and instead prioritise passage of the tripartite Labour Laws. It also called for increased representation of workers on the NSITF Board, insisting that labour’s seats must be expanded, not reduced.
The Organised Private Sector of Nigeria (OPSN) has joined the NLC in rejecting the planned amendment of the NSITF Act, warning that it could politicise the management of workers’ social protection funds and destroy the Fund’s tripartite foundation.
In a joint letter to the Senate President, signed by the Directors-General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), and Nigeria Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), the OPSN described the amendment as “a dangerous attempt to erode transparency, accountability, and stakeholder participation.”
“These amendments threaten to weaken the NSITF’s governance structure, expose it to undue political interference, and violate ILO conventions on social security and freedom of association,” the OPSN warned.
The group urged the Senate to stop the legislative process immediately, insisting that the NSITF, as currently structured, already provides the necessary safeguards for prudent and transparent management of workers’ contributions.
“Any attempt to alter this arrangement under the guise of reform would remove existing protections and open the door to confusion and mismanagement,” the OPSN stated.
Both the NLC and OPSN vowed to resist any attempt to hijack the NSITF, describing the proposed NSSTF Bill as “a threat to workers’ welfare, social justice, and the integrity of Nigeria’s labour institutions.”
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