The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has described 2024 as the most challenging for workers in the country.

Joe Ajaero, the NLC president, said this at the 2024 “Harmattan School” on Monday in Abuja, with the theme “Trade unions and the Quest for a New Social Contract”.

The Harmattan School, an annual event organised by the NLC, serves as a platform for capacity-building, knowledge sharing, and strategic planning.

He said that 2024 for workers in the country was filled with harrowing hardship.

“I welcome you to a year that we have witnessed one of the greatest turbulence in our history as a movement.

“It was a period where we were invaded, ransacked, and subjected to the highest level of threats, intimidation,” he said.

Mr Ajaero charged workers participating in the harmattan school to actively engage in the training which according to him, was aimed at preparing workers for the engagement and negotiation for the new social contract.

According to him, this year’s harmattan school affords the opportunity to dissect all that has happened to the NLC during the year, assess their dynamics, and initiate actionable steps to make ourselves stronger and better.

“We believe that in those events, we have emerged stronger, more resilient and better position to deliver on the expectations of Nigerian workers and people,” he said.

He said that those events were attempts to weaken and undermine the capacity of the NLC as a movement to deliver on the job to its primary and secondary constituencies.

“The articulation and protection of workers rights is our primary responsibility, and anything we do that does not approximate to that amounts to failure.

“We are, therefore, left with no other choice than to focus with greater determination and zeal on this mission of making our working places and our nation, to yield better results,,’”he said.

Dr Vanessa Phala, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) country director to Nigeria, charged trade unions to unite and engage governments to find solutions to some of the harrowing challenges workers were grappling with.

She said that the ILO expected a new social contract based on rebuilding trust in institutions.

“It must be inclusive, and it must protect and ensure participation of all those that are involved.

“We know that inspite of the newly negotiated minimum wage that was approved, the rising cost of goods and services is really not making it to have the impact that we want to see.

“I charge the conversation in the harmattan school to focus on identifying the kind of social contract that will take Nigeria forward,” she said.

She said that the concept of social contract was important, adding that it gives opportunity to take stock.

“I expect that the conclusion of this school will identify the priorities of the NLC and how it will engage on policy discussions with the leadership of the country,” she said.

(NAN)