Organised Labour has delivered a harsh critique of President Bola Tinubu’s first two years in office, accusing his administration of worsening the lives of ordinary Nigerians through economic reforms they describe as recycled, failed policies.
In a strongly worded statement, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero rejected Tinubu’s claims during a national broadcast that “the worst days are over,” arguing that over 150 million Nigerians have been pushed into multidimensional poverty.
“Far from renewing hope, his administration has simply revived the same failed neoliberal experiments of the past,” Ajaero said, citing the impact of policies such as fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate unification.
Economic Reforms, Rising Hardship
The NLC said Tinubu’s reforms have led to skyrocketing inflation, job losses, and widespread hunger. The abrupt removal of fuel subsidy last May saw prices jump from ₦187 to over ₦600 per litre, triggering a chain reaction across the economy. Though the government claimed this would free up public funds, Ajaero said the results have been “crippling,” with no visible reinvestment or relief for the masses.
“Instead of relief, Nigerians have been subjected to soaring costs, business closures, and severe transport burdens. The naira’s collapse has only imported more inflation, suffocating local industries,” the NLC said.
The union also criticised the unification of the exchange rate, arguing it accelerated the naira’s decline and worsened the cost-of-living crisis.
Government Optimism Dismissed
In his second-anniversary speech, President Tinubu defended his economic agenda under the Renewed Hope programme, stating:
“Our economic reforms are working. We are on course to building a greater, more economically stable nation.”
He acknowledged the hardship caused by his policies but stressed they were necessary sacrifices. He pointed to growing external reserves—up from $4 billion in 2023 to $23 billion in 2024—as evidence of progress.
But the NLC dismissed these claims as “cold comfort,” stressing that macroeconomic indicators mean little when citizens struggle to feed their families.
“You cannot cure a patient with the same poison that made them sick,” Ajaero remarked.
Insecurity, Wage Concerns, and Public Distrust
Beyond economic woes, labour leaders across states flagged worsening insecurity, unpaid wage awards, and a perceived disconnect between government rhetoric and public suffering.
Trade Union Congress (TUC) and NLC chapters in Lagos, Benue, Jigawa, Bauchi, Kaduna, and other states echoed a common message: Nigerians are poorer, angrier, and more insecure than they were two years ago.
Gbenga Ekundayo, Lagos TUC Chairman, criticised the government’s failure to boost domestic production, calling for a shift from consumption subsidies to support for manufacturing and agriculture.
There’s a glaring disconnect. Government says tighten your belts, but politicians aren’t doing the same, he said.
Several state NLC chairs slammed the new ₦70,000 minimum wage as insufficient and unevenly implemented, with many workers receiving less than ₦10,000 in additional income. Others pointed to poor electricity, food insecurity, and rising crime as signs that “the worst days” may not be over.
APC Responds: “Reforms Are Working”
The All-Progressives Congress (APC) rejected the NLC’s assessment. Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu, the party’s National Vice Chairman (South-East), described the union’s remarks as politically motivated and lacking depth.
It’s disappointing to hear statements that sound more like marketplace chatter than reasoned critique,” Arodiogbu said. “President Tinubu is taking tough, necessary decisions. He’s not chasing applause—he’s building a foundation.
Arodiogbu urged Nigerians to look beyond immediate discomfort and see the long-term vision, arguing that Tinubu’s administration should be judged on future outcomes, not short-term pain.
Summary:
Organised Labour’s verdict is unequivocal—Tinubu’s reforms have deepened hardship. While the government maintains its course, promising long-term gains, public patience appears to be wearing thin. With inflation high, wages strained, and insecurity growing, the next two years will be a crucial test of Tinubu’s leadership and the durability of his economic experiment.