NLC hosts National Organising academy to advocate for platform workers

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) joined forces with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) to host a two-day National Organising Academy in Abuja. Held on May 26 and 27, 2025, the event focused on improving conditions for platform workers in Nigeria’s growing gig economy. Union leaders, digital workers and civil society representatives gathered to discuss fair wages and worker protections.

During the opening session, NLC President Comrade Ayuba Wabba stressed the urgent need to protect gig workers’ rights. “Digital platforms dominate our labor market, yet many workers face unstable conditions without benefits,” he told attendees. The gathering allowed participants to share challenges and develop organizing strategies through interactive workshops.

ITUC representatives emphasized how platform worker struggles transcend borders, pledging global support for fair digital labor practices. Participants examined case studies from other countries while brainstorming Nigeria-specific solutions. Many workers shared personal stories of unpredictable incomes and lack of workplace safeguards.

The academy concluded with concrete plans to strengthen collective bargaining for app-based workers nationwide. NLC leaders promised to push for policies ensuring social security and fair contracts in the digital economy. They also announced follow-up training programs to sustain the organizing momentum.

As ride-hailing drivers and delivery riders exchanged contact information, the energy in the room reflected workers’ determination to fight for their rights. The event marked a crucial step toward recognizing platform workers as essential contributors to Nigeria’s economy deserving full labor protections.

The NLC plans to present the academy’s recommendations to government agencies while expanding outreach to more digital workers across states. This initiative comes as food delivery and transportation apps continue transforming Nigeria’s employment landscape, creating new organizing challenges for labor groups.

Workers left the venue with renewed hope, carrying training materials and solidarity messages from their peers. Many expressed gratitude for finally having their voices heard after years of working in isolation. The academy’s success has inspired plans for similar gatherings targeting other vulnerable worker groups in Nigeria’s informal sector.

Labor experts praised the event’s timing, noting how rapid platform expansion requires equally swift worker protections. They urged sustained collaboration between unions, tech companies and policymakers to balance innovation with employee welfare. The NLC vowed to monitor implementation of the strategies developed during the intensive two-day program.

This groundbreaking gathering has set a precedent for worker organizing in Africa’s largest digital economy. As participants returned to their cities, they carried both practical organizing tools and the reassurance that their struggles now have institutional backing. The academy’s impact will be measured by upcoming policy changes and growing union membership among Nigeria’s platform workers.

The NLC plans to document and share lessons from the academy with other African labor organizations facing similar challenges. With digital platforms reshaping work across the continent, such knowledge exchange could spark a regional movement for fair gig economy practices. For now, Nigerian platform workers have taken their first collective step toward securing the dignity and protections they deserve.

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