Nigeria has been listed among the 10 worst countries globally for workers’ rights in the 2026 Global Rights Index published by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
The report presents a troubling assessment of labour rights in the country, highlighting alleged attacks on trade union independence, arbitrary arrests, worker intimidation, and widespread union-busting activities by both government authorities and employers.
The annual ITUC Global Rights Index evaluates approximately 150 countries based on their respect for fundamental labour rights, including the freedom to organise, engage in collective bargaining, take industrial action, and express views freely.
According to the ITUC, the 2026 edition reflects the most severe global conditions for workers since the index was introduced.
Nigeria’s ranking was linked partly to developments in Edo State, where a prolonged leadership dispute has affected the labour movement.
The report stated that the situation worsened in December 2024 when the Edo State Government allegedly took control of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) secretariat in Benin City with the support of police officers and hired thugs. The building was reportedly locked, while an alternative leadership structure was installed in place of the duly elected state chairman.
The dispute further escalated in August 2025 when the Edo State House of Assembly passed a motion urging the NLC to suspend plans to inaugurate a caretaker committee for the state council, despite lacking constitutional authority over the union. When NLC officials arrived in Benin City to conduct the inauguration, they reportedly found the secretariat still sealed and surrounded by security personnel and suspected political loyalists.
The ITUC stated that labour leaders were pursued across the city and ultimately forced to inaugurate the caretaker committee at an undisclosed location to avoid possible violence. The report added that the NLC secretariat remains under occupation, with the recognised leadership still denied access.
The global labour body also raised concerns over alleged union-busting practices by employers in Nigeria.
It accused MTN Nigeria of preventing certain categories of workers from joining the Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PTECSSAN), their preferred union.
The report further alleged that Daewoo Nigeria denied workers the right to join unions of their choice, contrary to Nigerian labour laws.
At the Dangote Refinery, the ITUC claimed workers were compelled to join a management-backed union, while some employees were dismissed for affiliating with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG). The company was also accused of establishing so-called “yellow unions” to undermine genuine collective bargaining efforts.
The ITUC warned that the decline in workers’ rights in Nigeria reflects a broader global trend, with labour and democratic freedoms facing increasing pressure in many countries.
The organisation called on governments and employers worldwide to uphold international labour standards and safeguard workers’ rights to organise freely without fear of intimidation, discrimination, or retaliation.
