The Africa Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has expressed strong support for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in its demand for genuine electoral reform, urging the Nigerian Senate to safeguard the credibility of the country’s democracy.
In a statement issued in Lomé, Togo, and signed by its General Secretary, Akhator Joel Odigie, ITUC-Africa declared “firm solidarity” with Nigeria’s organised labour and working people in defending electoral integrity, democratic accountability, and people-centred governance.
The regional labour body raised concerns over legislative ambiguity surrounding electoral reforms, particularly transparency in the transmission and collation of results, warning that such uncertainty undermines public trust in the electoral process.
ITUC-Africa stressed that democracy cannot survive where the will of the people is weakened or subjected to political manoeuvring. It reminded lawmakers that elected representatives are servants of the people and must legislate in fidelity to the mandate given to them.
The organisation criticised the Senate’s “posturing and political ambiguity” on electoral reforms, describing it as a threat to democratic stability, development, and social progress. It noted that when democratic institutions falter, working people bear the heaviest burden through instability, weakened protections, and erosion of rights.
The group cautioned that signals emerging from the National Assembly risk deepening distrust in democratic processes and undermining confidence in universal suffrage, particularly the assurance that every vote counts.
ITUC-Africa emphasised that reforms must strengthen democracy by promoting transparency, accountability, and credibility rather than producing exclusionary or regressive systems.
“ITUC-Africa calls on the Nigerian Senate and its House of Representatives counterpart to act decisively, restore public trust, and ensure reforms that safeguard the sovereignty of the Nigerian people. The future of democracy, and the rights and progress of workers, depend on it,” the statement concluded.
By Michael Oche, Abuja
