Shameful and Unworthy: The NLC’s Hypocrisy in Lagos
By Tijjani Sarki
Public Policy Advocate
Zawaciki, Kano
May 18, 2025
The recent outburst and threats by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos chapter, over the employment of 89 labourers from Katsina State at the Dangote Refinery is not only shameful—it is deeply disappointing. It exposes the rot within an institution once regarded as the conscience of Nigerian workers.
This is a stain on the NLC's hard-earned legacy and a dangerous descent into tribal bias, masquerading as labour activism.
Rule of Law Must Be Respected—but Without Prejudice
No one is advocating for the violation of labour laws. In fact, the Katsina youths who travelled to Lagos for employment should be commended for pursuing lawful, productive work instead of engaging in crime or idleness.
If there were procedural errors or legal breaches, due process should be followed to address them fairly—and without ethnic undertones.
The law is for all Nigerians. It must not be weaponized by unions to justify discriminatory actions or incite division. The NLC’s role is to defend the rights of all Nigerian workers, not a privileged few based on location or language.
Where Was the NLC When Nigerians Were Crying Out?
It is bitterly ironic that this same NLC was missing in action while Nigerians suffered under record-breaking inflation, the removal of fuel subsidies, and economic suffocation.
They were silent when the cost of living soared.
They were quiet when salaries lost value.
They folded their arms when families could no longer afford basic needs.
Now, suddenly, the NLC finds its voice—not to fight economic injustice—but to harass poor northern youths seeking a better life.
That’s not activism. That’s hypocrisy at its loudest.
A Call for Decency and Restraint
If there’s truly an issue with recruitment standards, there are established legal channels to address that. But the NLC, by taking an alarmist, tribalistic approach, is damaging its own reputation and creating unnecessary regional tension.
At the very least, if the Lagos chapter of the NLC cannot remain neutral and respectful of national unity, it should step aside and allow other trade unions or concerned groups within Lagos to take up the issue—without polluting it with bias or hostility.
Otherwise, this pattern of behavior risks casting the NLC as an ethnic interest group rather than a national labour institution. That would be a historic tragedy.
To Northern States and Leaders: Be Vigilant and Assertive
This incident should serve as a call to action for the Katsina State Government and leaders across Northern Nigeria. They must rise to defend the dignity and rights of their citizens—especially when those citizens act responsibly and lawfully.
Lagos cannot be a no-go area for Northern workers. If law and justice must be observed, they must be observed everywhere, not selectively.
Northern Business Leaders: Wake Up to the Hostility
Let this be a wake-up call for northern investors and entrepreneurs. You are welcome to invest across Nigeria, but always remember you are not immune to bias.
If northern labourers are vilified for working outside their home states, what message does that send about national unity?
The irony is striking:
- When northerners stay home, they are called lazy.
- When they travel for work, they are called threats.
This two-faced attitude must be confronted head-on.
Final Word: NLC, Rediscover Your Purpose
The NLC, once a powerful force for justice, has strayed far from its core mission. Its recent actions reveal an uncomfortable truth: it no longer speaks for the average Nigerian worker. It now speaks for a few—with ulterior motives and narrow interests.
This is not merely an error of judgment—it is a betrayal.
Until the NLC reorients itself to serve all Nigerians, without fear or favour, it has no moral standing to speak in the name of labour.
What we witnessed in Lagos was not justice. It was prejudice—shameful, unworthy, and unfit for a union of its stature.
Let this serve as a lesson, a warning, and a call to conscience—for all Nigerians who still believe in fairness, unity, and the dignity of labour.