*Says govt pushing workers to boiling point

By Victor Ahiuma-Young

The National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, held few days ago in Abuja, provided an avenue for the union’s leaders to assess the state of industrial relations across the nation’s educational and associated institutions and their impact on workers.

The meeting drew several dignitaries from the government, labour, academia,  among others.

Setting the tone for the meeting, NASU President, Dr. Makolo Hassan, warned that the government’s continued neglect of workers’ welfare, failure to honour agreements, and chronic underfunding of the education sector were gradually pushing the country toward another wave of industrial unrest.

In a speech that reflected the frustration and resilience of Nigeria’s workforce, Hassan said the nation’s labour community was being tested by anti-worker policies and practices that have left millions of employees impoverished, disillusioned, and angry.

He stressed that unless the government took urgent steps to address the deepening crisis in workers’ welfare and restore confidence in collective bargaining, Nigeria risked facing widespread strikes and disruptions in the education sector and beyond.

 ”The Nigerian worker is weary. Our wages no longer reflect the realities of today’s economy. Inflation has wiped out the value of salaries, leaving many unable to meet basic needs,” he said. “Governments must realise that no nation can rise above the welfare of its workers. When workers prosper, the nation flourishes — but when they are neglected, the very foundation of the economy begins to crumble.”

Workers losing hope

 The NASU President lamented that the education sector — once the pride of the nation — had been crippled by years of government neglect, poor funding, and crumbling infrastructure. He said it was heartbreaking that while children of the elite study in expensive private schools and abroad, public institutions are left to rot.

“Quality education must not be a privilege for the wealthy,” he said. “It is a public good that must be guaranteed for every child, regardless of social status. Our advocacy for increased funding in education is not only about our welfare — it is about protecting Nigeria’s future.”

Hassan said the failure to implement negotiated agreements and poor working conditions in tertiary institutions had further dampened morale among education workers.

“Across the University system, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education, and Research Institutes, Collective Bargaining Agreements became due for renegotiation several years ago. Yet, government delays and inaction continue to frustrate our members. Though we have seen some progress with the universities, others remain on hold,” he explained.

Casualisation, job insecurity

 Hassan also raised the alarm over the growing casualisation of workers in both public and private institutions, describing it as “a dangerous trend that is eroding job security and dignity in labour.”

“Casual and contract labour have become tools for exploitation. Many workers are denied benefits, stability, and the right to organise. This must stop. Labour laws must be reviewed to protect workers from casualisation and guarantee fair employment practices,” he said. “He accused some management of deliberately frustrating union activities by deducting check-off dues meant for NASU and remitting them to unregistered associations.

 Hassan warned “We are fully aware of these illegalities. NASU will defend its lawful jurisdiction under the Trade Unions Act and ensure that no worker is victimised for standing with the Union.”

Fairness, justice, partnership

 Beyond the workplace, Hassan touched on broader national issues, including insecurity, poor healthcare, corruption, and weak social protection systems. 

He said these challenges collectively deepen workers’ suffering and weaken the economy.

“The Nigerian worker builds the nation but is often left unprotected. Our social security system remains weak, exposing workers to poverty and indignity after years of service. It’s time to move from rhetoric to reform — to build a system that truly safeguards labour and honours those who serve,” he stressed.

He urged government to strengthen policies that create jobs, stabilise prices, and encourage local production, saying “frequent policy inconsistency has become one of the greatest threats to economic stability and workers’ welfare. What the country needs is political will and sincerity. Governments must stop seeing labour as an enemy and start seeing us as partners in national development.”

Hassan reminded the government that lasting peace and progress could only come through fairness, dialogue, and respect for agreements freely entered into.