Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has called on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to spearhead a national movement pressing for the enforcement of Nigeria’s welfare laws and international labour conventions ratified by the country.
In a statement released Thursday, Falana asserted that full implementation of constitutional and statutory welfare provisions would drastically improve the quality of life for ordinary Nigerians.
Citing Sections 16 and 17 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Falana emphasised the Nigerian government’s obligation to ensure equitable economic development, social welfare, access to food, healthcare, shelter, living wages, and humane working conditions.
He criticised political elites for undermining these provisions by privatising public enterprises and monopolising national assets such as oil blocks and solid minerals. “Successive administrations have attempted to sideline these obligations, yet public advocacy has forced the passage of key welfare laws like the Labour Act, Trade Union Act, Child Rights Act, and the Universal Basic Education Act,” he noted.
Falana highlighted Nigeria’s ratification of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which mandates the right to education, health, and work. He pointed to Section 254(C)(1) of the Constitution, which empowers the National Industrial Court to enforce both local and international labour laws.
Despite this framework, violations persist. Falana cited the N135.5 billion in unclaimed UBEC matching grants due to states’ refusal to provide counterpart funding, worsening the out-of-school children crisis. The Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) has sued the federal government over this neglect, but state governments are disputing the group’s legal standing rather than addressing the issue.
“State leaders are simply not interested in educating poor children,” Falana remarked.
He also condemned the failure of many states to implement the N70,000 minimum wage for local government staff and primary school teachers, and decried the federal government’s weak enforcement of the National Minimum Wage Act in the private sector.
Falana expressed grave concern over the government’s borrowing of N10 trillion from pension assets, which now total N22.5 trillion. Many retirees, he said, are unable to access their pensions due to this fiscal recklessness. The House of Representatives is currently investigating the matter to prevent a systemic collapse.
In housing, Falana criticised the misuse of the National Housing Fund (NHF), citing the indictment of former FMBN CEO Gimba Ya’u Kumo for allegedly embezzling $65 million meant for 962 homes in Abuja. He urged labour unions to monitor the case and push for the recovery of an additional N100 billion reportedly looted by fraudulent employers.
“The labour movement must ensure these stolen funds are recovered and used to build homes for Nigerian workers,” Falana said, calling for a united nationwide mobilisation to demand accountability and enforce existing laws.
