President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has warned that the continued criminalisation of strikes and excessive reliance on legal technicalities could erode public confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.
Ajaero said the judiciary must rise to its moral and constitutional responsibility to protect workers from exploitation, stressing that labour rights are fundamental human rights, not privileges subject to political or corporate convenience.
Speaking at the 4th International Labour Arbitration and Adjudication Forum in Abuja, the NLC leader noted that global industrial relations are increasingly shaped by precarious employment, driven by what he described as a “race to the bottom” that sacrifices labour protections in the name of investment.
“In a rapidly changing world defined by exploitation and economic warfare, the very concept of justice is under threat,” he said. “True labour justice is not a gift from the powerful. It is not charity. It is a right.”
Ajaero said workers’ lived experiences often contradict official narratives about access to justice, arguing that judicial pronouncements frequently fail to reflect the realities of workplace exploitation.
He urged trade unions to intensify efforts to educate workers about their rights, describing ignorance as one of the greatest barriers to justice.
“It is only when workers know their rights that they can recognise violations and seek redress,” he said.
While acknowledging that capital operates on a global scale, Ajaero insisted that labour resistance must also be global, stressing the need for unfettered access to labour justice to curb workplace abuses.
“To get justice, workers must be strong and resilient. Sometimes, we must create a compelling environment for justice to thrive,” he said.
He also called on employers in both the public and private sectors to demonstrate genuine compliance with labour standards and international conventions, rather than merely paying lip service.
Although recognising the constitutional duty of judicial impartiality, Ajaero warned that neutrality should not translate into blindness to structural inequality between labour and capital.
“The judiciary must see clearly the power imbalance between workers and conglomerates.
A judiciary that is blind in the wrong way becomes an instrument of oppression,” he said.
He cautioned against judicial interpretations that legalise unfair dismissals or criminalise strikes, warning that courts risk being perceived as complicit in injustice when they bar unions from organising or engaging in industrial action.
“When justice becomes commodified—accessible only to those who can afford endless litigation—workers are compelled to seek alternatives,” Ajaero said.
Responding to recent court pronouncements restricting strikes, he reaffirmed that the right to strike is a fundamental human right anchored in international labour standards, including Labour Organisation (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98 on freedom of association and collective bargaining.
Ajaero noted that labour protections such as the eight-hour workday, workplace safety standards, and collective bargaining rights were secured through collective struggle, not benevolence.
“Every major labour right we enjoy today was won through solidarity and sacrifice. When the doors of justice are closed, workers will find their own doors,” he said.
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