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*The Toothless Watchdog: How the NLC Lost Its Bite*
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was once a force to be reckoned with. It stood as the vanguard of workers’ rights, a shield against government policies that threatened the livelihoods of millions.
When the NLC spoke, the government listened. When it called for a strike, the nation felt its impact. But today, that legacy is crumbling.
Something has shifted. The strikes now seem performative, a mere ritual with a predictable outcome.
The NLC declares a strike, raising hopes that the suffering masses will finally see relief. But before the momentum builds, its leaders are summoned to Aso Rock.
Closed-door meetings take place, and within hours, a press statement emerges, strike suspended. The cycle repeats, leaving Nigerians more disillusioned than before.
Take the events of June 2024. The NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) rallied workers to demand a fair minimum wage. Markets closed, offices shut down, and workers dared to hope. But the action lasted barely a day before the NLC backed down, citing "ongoing negotiations" with the government.
What followed was the familiar script: delayed discussions, diluted agreements, and a return to the status quo, while inflation continued its ruthless march.
This is not an isolated case. Time and again, the NLC has raised the battle cry, only to retreat before the fight truly begins.
Nigerians no longer see a union willing to stand its ground. Instead, they see an organization that postures, protests briefly, and then capitulates.
The trust that once existed has eroded, replaced by skepticism and frustration.
The cost of this decline is steep. With no serious opposition, the government pushes forward with policies that further burden the average Nigerian. Fuel subsidies are removed without adequate cushioning measures. Taxes increase while wages stagnate. The price of food, transport, and basic necessities soars. And in the face of it all, the NLC issues statements instead of taking action.
On the streets, in the marketplaces, and among factory workers, the sentiment is clear: the NLC has lost its backbone. The leadership no longer commands respect. Some call them jokers; others call them puppets.
What is certain is that the once-mighty labor movement is now seen as an extension of the establishment rather than a defender of the people.
If the NLC wishes to reclaim its place in history, it must rediscover the resolve that once made it powerful. Strikes must be more than symbolic gestures. Leaders must resist the lure of power and personal gain.
The Nigerian worker is watching, waiting for a true champion. Until then, the NLC remains a shadow of its former self, a union in name only.
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