Labour Warns Government Against Anti-poor Policies

In Abeokuta, Ogun State, labour leaders and activists gathered at the 1st Quadrennial and 9th National Delegates Conference of the Precision, Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA) to voice concerns over the federal government’s economic direction.

The event, held at the historic Iwe Iroyin press centre, became a platform for workers to challenge policies they believe are deepening hardship.

PERESSA President, Rufus Olusesan, who was returned for another term, criticised government actions that he said are worsening poverty. He pointed to inflation, joblessness, and the rising cost of living as conditions that have left many households struggling to survive. He warned that electricity tariffs have become unbearable for homes and industries, pushing manufacturers and small businesses to the brink.

Central to the debate was the reported plan to introduce a 5 percent fuel tax from January 2026 under the Nigeria Tax Administration Act. Olusesan said this policy would further devastate workers who are already paying nearly five times more for petrol since the removal of fuel subsidies in 2023. Although the Presidential Tax Reform Committee dismissed the reports as false, labour leaders accused government officials of double-speak and warned against deceptive denials that mask exploitative measures.

The union also condemned the N70,000 minimum wage recently announced, arguing that inflation and currency devaluation have already reduced its real value. According to them, corruption and wasteful spending by political office holders make the wage unsustainable for workers who continue to battle hunger, unpaid school fees, and rising medical bills.

Olusesan said the removal of fuel subsidy and naira devaluation were presented as reforms to grow revenue but have instead enriched a few while leaving factories to close and jobs to vanish. He stressed that the outcome has been harsher living conditions and deeper poverty for millions of citizens.

PERESSA also rejected the new National Industrial Relations Policy approved by the Federal Executive Council, describing it as an attempt to weaken unions, criminalise strikes, and entrench poor wages. The association vowed to resist any move aimed at silencing organised labour.

Backing this stance, Deputy General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ismail Bello, called for unity within the labour movement. He urged workers to confront employers who interfere with union rights or attempt to dictate how workers organise themselves. He maintained that no employer has the right to deny workers freedom of association.

The Abeokuta conference ended with a renewed call for solidarity among workers and a demand that government reverse policies described as anti-poor. For labour leaders, the survival of workers and the protection of their rights remain at the heart of their struggle.