The Nigeria Labour Congress has given the Federal Government seven days to constitute the governing board of the National Pension Commission and address allegations of diverting workers’ funds through the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund.
The warning followed a meeting of the NLC’s Central Working Committee on August 13, where labour leaders reviewed pressing issues affecting Nigerian workers, including the leadership crisis in its Edo State council, alleged irregularities at the NSITF, and what they described as a governance vacuum at PENCOM.
In a communiqué signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the union accused the government of breaching the statutes that established the NSITF by diverting 40 per cent of workers’ contributions into national revenue. Ajaero also condemned alleged attempts to take over the NLC National Headquarters, media attacks on trade unions, and covert plans to amend the NSITF Act in a way that would give government full control of the fund.
“The ongoing assault on workers’ social protection rights, including the diversion of their hard-earned contributions, is unacceptable,” Ajaero said. “The NSITF belongs to the Nigerian working class, and we will mobilise all legitimate means to ensure workers’ interests are protected.”
The NLC insisted that the PENCOM board must be constituted in line with the law and that the Pension Commission should present a full report on the status of workers’ funds. Ajaero warned that if these demands are not met within the seven-day window, the Congress would not be able to guarantee industrial peace in the sector.
He described the situation as a direct attack on workers’ rights, resources, and the principle of tripartite governance, vowing that the NLC would resist any move that undermines international labour standards.
