By Muhammad Mamman
Nigerian labour unions are raising the alarm over what they describe as a surge in “slave-labour” style factories, warning that precarious jobs are fast replacing decent employment across the country.
At the 33rd Annual Industrial Relations Seminar of the National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE) in Ilorin, union leaders said workers are increasingly subjected to inhumane treatment, casualisation, and outsourcing schemes designed to strip them of their rights.
“Employment relations in Nigeria are taking a dangerous turn,” said NUCFRLANMPE President Bolarinwa Sunday. “Casualisation, outsourcing, and contract staffing are replacing regular jobs. Redundancies happen daily, while decent work is being eroded.”
Sunday accused some companies, particularly along the Lagos–Sagamu–Ibadan industrial corridor, of operating “slave camps” disguised as worker housing. According to him, many of the firms are owned by Chinese nationals but shielded by Nigerian politicians. He alleged that soldiers and police officers enforce strict control over employees, subjecting dissenters to “inhuman punishment.”
Unions vowed to escalate the fight through the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), with Sunday declaring: “Organised Labour will take them on, and they shall be called to order.”
Mounting hardship
Leaders of the National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) and the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) echoed the concerns, stressing that Nigerian workers face a perfect storm of economic hardship, job insecurity, and eroding purchasing power.
“At a time when families are battling soaring living costs, precarious work, and resistance to unionisation, we must strengthen our solidarity,” said NUTGTWN President Peters Godonu. “Productivity must go hand in hand with improved welfare and dignity of labour.”
NCSU’s General Secretary, Olowoyo Gbenga, warned that both workers and investors are “groaning” under Nigeria’s economic crisis, urging the government to provide policy incentives, lower taxes on imported raw materials, and create an environment for sustainable job growth.
Government responds
Representatives of the Ministry of Labour and the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS) offered assurances, praising the unions for keeping the seminar alive through 33 editions despite harsh conditions.
“Your commitment to developing human capacity for productivity and welfare is commendable,” Labour Minister Mohammed Dingyadi said in a goodwill message. “The ministry stands fully behind your efforts.”
MINILS Director-General Issa Aremu called for a dedicated fund to support workers’ education, arguing that “by building workers, we are building the nation.”
The bigger picture
Labour leaders are now demanding urgent reforms to Nigeria’s outdated labour laws and stricter regulation of outsourcing and contract staffing practices. They argue that unless government, industry, and unions strike a balance between productivity and welfare, Nigeria risks sliding deeper into exploitative employment practices.
