By Akin Oluwarotimi
It has become increasingly evident that Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has abandoned the noble mandate of organised labour and instead embarked on a calculated mission to discredit the Tinubu administration.
Since the beginning of the year, his actions and utterances have consistently reflected a partisan agenda rather than genuine advocacy for Nigerian workers.
Ajaero’s Easter message, which should have been a solemn religious reflection, was shamelessly converted into a political tirade aimed at inciting workers against the government. Similarly, during the International Labour Organization (ILO) sessions, he sought to malign Nigeria before the international community, deliberately misrepresenting the Tinubu administration as anti-worker. This narrative was not only false but reckless, ignoring the clear evidence of reforms and interventions already undertaken to improve workers’ welfare.
While no government or leader is infallible, it is grossly unfair and intellectually dishonest for Ajaero to refuse to acknowledge President Tinubu’s impressive record as a labour-friendly leader. From wage negotiations to social protection measures, the administration has demonstrated a commitment to advancing workers’ interests. Yet, Ajaero has consistently chosen to weaponize his office to project hostility, painting a distorted picture that serves partisan agendas rather than the genuine concerns of Nigerian workers.
By persistently denying progress and exaggerating grievances, Ajaero undermines the credibility of the Nigeria Labour Congress and risks turning it into a political tool rather than a respected institution of worker advocacy. His posture is not that of a patriotic labour leader but of a partisan agitator intent on destabilising the polity.
It is therefore unfortunate to see the NLC President increasingly presenting himself as a political content creator in front of ring light, making rhetoric that appears infantile, exaggerated, and preposterous. His suggestion that President Tinubu has been aloof from the concerns of Nigerian workers is, at best, a misleading narrative and, at worst, a calculated attempt to de-market the administration ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commitment demonstrated by both the Federal Government and state governments in ensuring the prompt payment of workers’ salaries and allowances must not be overlooked. This represents a significant departure from previous administrations when workers in some states went for months, and in some cases years, without receiving their salaries or pensions. To dismiss these improvements is to present a distorted picture of reality.
Ajaero, as leader of organised labour, should place workers’ interests above partisan considerations. His office carries a responsibility to promote constructive engagement, objective advocacy, and the welfare of Nigerian workers—not rhetoric that could be interpreted as political campaigning.
Reducing every government policy or intervention to a political talking point does little to advance the cause of Nigerian workers. What is required at this critical juncture is responsible leadership, constructive dialogue, and a commitment to facts rather than narratives driven by political interests.
His Independence Day message and subsequent podcast appearances further expose a troubling pattern: Ajaero has never acknowledged any progress or achievement under President Tinubu’s leadership. Instead, he has consistently painted a picture of hostility and neglect, as though he were a paid agent executing a hatchet job for opposition interests.
Workers deserve a leader who will fight for fair wages, secure pensions, safe workplaces, and sustainable employment—not one who weaponises the labour movement to score political points. Ajaero’s refusal to acknowledge positive strides by the Tinubu administration reveals a dangerous bias that risks turning the NLC into an extension of opposition politics rather than a neutral, worker-focused institution.
The truth is clear: Joe Ajaero is not speaking for the generality of Nigerian workers. He is speaking for political interests that thrive on chaos and confrontation. His approach is reckless, divisive, and counterproductive at a time when Nigeria is undergoing delicate economic reforms and needs stability.
If the NLC under Ajaero continues down this path, it will lose its moral authority and credibility. Labour must return to its core mandate—constructive dialogue, evidence-based advocacy, and pragmatic solutions—rather than serving as a megaphone for partisan propaganda.
Labour leaders must embody social responsibility and emotional intelligence when addressing sensitive national issues. Their words and actions carry immense weight, shaping not only the industrial ecosystem but also the broader social and political climate. A healthy, enabling environment can only be achieved when labour leaders act with fairness, balance, and integrity.
Comrade Joe Ajaero must align himself with these fundamental leadership principles and ethical standards. His role demands more than confrontation and rhetoric; it requires constructive engagement, measured criticism, and a commitment to solutions that genuinely improve the lives of Nigerian workers.
True labour leadership is not about inciting tension or politicizing grievances. It is about fostering dialogue, building trust, and ensuring that the workplace ecosystem remains stable, productive, and fair. By embracing social responsibility and emotional intelligence, Ajaero's actions have portrayed him as a failed leader, nevertheless he still has the opportunity to reposition the NLC as a credible, respected institution—one that advances workers’ welfare without compromising national stability.
Ultimately, the credibility of organised labour depends on its ability to balance advocacy with responsibility. Ajaero must rise above partisan undertones and demonstrate the empathy, patriotism, and ethical leadership expected of someone entrusted with the voice of millions of Nigerian workers.
*Akin Oluwarotimi is an elder statesman, rights activist, lawyer and cyber security consultant based in Abuja*
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