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By Nosakhare Ogbomo
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Nigeria is standing at a critical juncture as worsening economic conditions deepen the suffering of its workforce, Comrade Nosakhare Ogbomo has said. According to him, the nation’s workers, particularly those in research and public institutions, are bearing the brunt of inflation, unemployment, stagnant wages, and collapsing public infrastructure. The unionist is sounding the alarm, demanding not only immediate relief but a fundamental restructuring of Nigeria’s approach to labour rights and national development.
“From spiraling inflation and devalued wages to chronic job insecurity and institutional neglect, Nigerian workers face a barrage of challenges. The cost of living has soared, while salaries remain frozen and pension payments are delayed for months andsometimes, and this silent emergency is being felt most acutely by professionals in underfunded research institutions such as the Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research (NITR) and the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), where decades of underinvestment have rendered critical facilities nearly obsolete.”
Also, the labour advocate warns that the economic crisis must not be used to erode the constitutional and international rights of Nigerian workers. These include:
Dignified Employment: Section 17(3) of the Constitution upholds fair wages and humane working conditions.
Right to Unionize: Protected by both Nigerian law and ILO conventions, this ensures freedom of association and collective action.
Collective Bargaining: Recognized globally as the foundation of democratic labour relations.
Job Security: Arbitrary dismissals are rampant, particularly in public service sectors.
Living Wage: Despite the National Minimum Wage Act (2019), inflation has outpaced remuneration, worsening poverty among the working class.
On the other hand, he emphasized that the removal of fuel subsidies, a volatile exchange rate, and IMF-influenced austerity measures have devastated the economy. Adding that rising transportation and food costs have compounded hardship, while short-term contracts and widespread casualization of labour are now the norm—even within government agencies. The country’s once-promising research sector has also become a casualty of this decline, with many institutions unable to sustain basic operations.
However, he reminded that in this climate of crisis, unions like the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI) are emerging as critical defenders of worker rights. Stressing that their current advocacy agenda includes:
Amplifying Marginalized Voices: Giving visibility to the plight of technical and research personnel.
Demanding Sectoral Investment: Insisting on adequate funding for research as a pillar of economic recovery and innovation.
Resisting Neoliberal Reforms: Opposing privatization and fiscal policies that prioritize profits over public welfare.
Mobilizing Public Support: Raising awareness of how labour issues intersect with national development.
International Solidarity: Engaging global labour bodies to spotlight rights violations and push for accountability.
The Labour expert and union leader urges a strategic response rooted in sustained activism and highlighting key proposals which include:
1. Cross-Sectoral Unity: Coordinated action among unions in education, health, and research.
2. Legislative Advocacy: New laws to penalize wage defaults and guarantee budget allocations.
3. Democratic Participation: Encouraging workers to engage actively in policymaking and governance.
4. Global Pressure: Seeking international support to hold violators of labour rights accountable.
5. Evidence-Based Campaigning: Using data to support worker demands and inform public discourse.
While reacting to the plight of the workers in the near future, Comrade Ogbomo opined that
a nation is only as strong as its workers”.
He noted that the plight of Nigerian workers is a reflection of deeper national dysfunction. The Labour Experts warns that without urgent intervention, continued exploitation and neglect of the workforce will further erode national stability and development.
In his conclusion, Ogbmo said ASURI and other labour unions are calling not just for policy shifts but for a radical reawakening that places the dignity, rights, and contributions of Nigerian workers at the center of national renewal.
“As the country faces unprecedented socio-economic challenges, the message is clear: Nigeria’s future depends on how it treats its workers today, Comrade Ogbome noted.
Comrade Ogbomo Nosakhare Toluwalase is the Director of Protocol & Mobilization and Special Adviser to the Secretary General of Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions (ASURI).
