On 7 August, heavily armed security forces raided and occupied the headquarters of the ITUC affiliate the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), arresting a union worker and wrecking the organisation's bookshop.

Earlier in the month, the media reported that 13 people were killed by security forces during a protest for economic justice. Since 2023, Nigerian trade unions, have faced a campaign of harassment, which has included the violent assault of the NLC President in November 2023.

ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle said: "The situation in Nigeria is deeply concerning. This latest raid comes on the back of a sharp rise in intimidation and repression of trade unions.

"This includes the harassment of activists, the violation of collective bargaining rights and the violent suppression of peaceful protests. We see the systematic contravention of ILO conventions by the Nigerian government, particularly those related to freedom of association and the right to organise.

"We demand that the government withdraws its security forces from the offices of the NLC, that it returns all confiscated trade union material and that it upholds human and labour rights. Government actions not only violate the fundamental rights of workers but also undermine the very essence of democracy. The global labour movement and international community must stand in solidarity with the working people of Nigeria to ensure that the government respects labour rights, civil liberties, and international law."

In 2024's ITUC Global Rights Index, Nigeria was rated 5, indicating no guarantee of rights.

• Rights
• Commonwealth Trade Union Group
• Nigeria
• Repression