The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government to reverse what it described as illegal diversions of workers’ funds in the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) and to immediately constitute the Governing Board of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM).
The Labour Centre warned that failure to act would plunge the nation into industrial unrest.
In a communiqué issued at the end of its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Wednesday, signed by the congress president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the NLC accused the government of undermining workers’ rights and dismantling statutory protections for pension and social security funds.
The labour centre expressed outrage over the reported diversion of 40 per cent of workers’ NSITF contributions into government coffers as revenue, which it labelled a flagrant violation of the fund’s establishing laws.
The congress also condemned alleged moves to amend the NSITF Act to give the government complete control over the funds, warning that such a change would disenfranchise workers and breach international labour standards.
On PENCOM, the NLC said the absence of a legally required governing board had created a governance vacuum, leaving pension funds, regarded as deferred wages, under the sole control of government officials, without the statutory tripartite oversight of workers, employers and the state.
“The CWC expressed outrage at the ongoing assault on workers’ social protection rights through the Federal Government’s diversion of 40 per cent of workers’ contributions to the national coffers as revenue, in flagrant violation of the statutes establishing the NSITF.
The CWC warned that these actions represent a direct attack on workers’ rights, hard-earned resources, and the principle of tripartite governance enshrined in international labour standards”, the statement reads in parts.
“The NSITF must account for and return all diverted funds within seven working days from today, the PENCOM board must be constituted adequately in full compliance with the law within seven working days from today and submit to the NLC a full status report of the funds within the same period.
If nothing is done by the end of these seven working days, NLC will no longer guarantee Industrial peace in the sector,” it added.
In Edo State, the CWC reviewed the situation in the council and dissolved the state administrative council over unethical behaviour, anti-union conduct, and violations of the NLC constitution.
“The meeting approved the constitution of a caretaker committee to run the council’s affairs until fresh elections are conducted.
The statement added that the CWC reaffirmed that discipline, internal democracy, and accountability remain non-negotiable pillars of the labour movement.
