Editorial
NLC: Still Clueless At 40
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), penultimate week, marked its 40th Anniversary with its leaders and other associates taking turns to bemoan the plight of the Nigerian worker in the face of ever increasing challenges. This is against the assurance by the Labour and Productivity Minister, Dr Chris Ngige, who, during the anniversary, promised that the Federal Government would implement the New National Minimum Wage in the third quarter of this year.
The NLC, by its formation in February 1978, is saddled mainly with the responsibility of agitating for the welfare of Nigerian workers; but how far this apparently onerous task has been achieved by successive leaderships remains a moot point among members and friends of Africa’s largest labour conglomerate.
While it may be admitted that the NLC has, within these four decades, achieved some milestones on its chequered path, The Tide is, however, appalled by the fact that revenues accruing to government and the labour unions have continued to grow even as the average Nigerian worker is persistently plagued by a plethora of challenges, including the inability to procure some basic necessities of life such as food, shelter, clothing, medication, potable water, transportation and electricity.
The so-called minimum wage over which there is always so much media hype, if and when approved, had often been implemented in the breach by governments at all tiers, even as inflation and multiple deductions were on standby to further exact their tolls on whatever was eventually payrolled for the worker.
We recall that while trying to rise in defence of the Nigerian working class, the NLC had sometimes stood in the way of ruthless state authorities, particularly under military regimes. One of such confrontations was responsible for the nine months ban on the Congress in 1988 under General Ibrahim Babangida. The same fate also befell the NLC between 1994 and 1998 under General Sani Abacha.
The democratic reforms introduced in the 1999 Constitution, some of which annulled most of the military’s draconian decrees, ought to have served to embolden the then resurgent NLC, but its leaders at that time did not appear to have recovered from their immediate past experiences. It was, indeed, at this point that the new civilian administration became more relentless in its attempt to balkanize the once formidable labour movement in Nigeria.
While we rejoice with the NLC at 40, we also expect it to take a deep reflection on the welfare of workers in the country, especially as it affects gratuity, pensions, death benefits, casualisation, and non-unionisation of workers by some employers, among other demands.
Labour leaders in Nigeria must wake up from their slumber and strive to hold government accountable as was the case in the days of Pa Michael Imoudu, Hassan Sunmonu, Paschal Bafyau and of recent, Adams Oshiomhole. In fact, they should also take a cue from some of their counterparts in other countries who had gone ahead to contest for the highest political offices in their countries.
In South Africa, for instance, the erstwhile President, Jacob Zuma, and the incumbent, Cyril Ramaphosa, were said to have ridden on the wings of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) to occupy strategic offices in the ruling African National Congress (ANC) before ascending to the Presidency.
Our concern remains that the current NLC leadership is clueless and this is adversely affecting the wellbeing of the Nigerian worker. Today, workers are owed arrears of salaries (up to 13 months in some states) while others have been denied yearly increments and promotions. Even the newly introduced contributory pension scheme is already suffering hiccups in some states as the authorities had since ceased to make any more remittances on behalf of their workers.
Meanwhile, petrol is becoming scarce every day with government speaking from both sides of its mouth, just as oil workers are being laid off daily. And the NLC still claims to be in existence and very much relevant. Haba!
It began as a seemingly minor in- flight disagreement. Comfort Emmason, a passenger on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, reportedly failed to switch off her mobile phone when instructed by the cabin crew. What should have been a routine enforcement of safety regulations spiralled into a physical confrontation, sparking a national debate on the limits of airline authority and the rights of passengers.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) wasted no time in condemning the treatment meted out to Emmason. In a strongly worded statement, the body described the incident as “a flagrant violation of her fundamental human rights” and called for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the airline staff. The NBA stressed that while passengers must adhere to safety rules, such compliance should never be extracted through intimidation, violence, or humiliation.
Following the altercation, Emmason found herself arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court and remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, a location more commonly associated with hardened criminals than with errant passengers. In a surprising turn of events, the Federal Government later dropped all charges against her, citing “overriding public interest” and concerns about due process.
Compounding her woes, Ibom Air initially imposed a lifetime ban preventing her from boarding its aircraft. That ban has now been lifted, following mounting public pressure and calls from rights groups for a more measured approach. The reversal has been welcomed by many as a step towards restoring fairness and proportionality in handling such disputes.
While her refusal to comply with crew instructions was undeniably inappropriate, questions linger about whether the punishment fit the offence. Was the swift escalation from verbal reminder to physical ejection a proportionate response, or an abuse of authority? The incident has reignited debate over how airlines balance safety enforcement with respect for passenger rights.
The Tide unequivocally condemns the brutal and degrading treatment the young Nigerian woman received from the airline’s staff. No regulation, however vital, justifies the use of physical force or the public shaming of a passenger. Such behaviour is antithetical to the principles of customer service, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Emmason’s own defiance warrants reproach. Cabin crew instructions, especially during boarding or take-off preparations, are not mere suggestions; they are safety mandates. Reports suggest she may have been unable to comply because of a malfunctioning power button on her device, but even so, she could have communicated this clearly to the crew. Rules exist to safeguard everyone on board, and passengers must treat them with due seriousness.
Nigerians, whether flying domestically or abroad, would do well to internalise the importance of orderliness in public spaces. Adherence to instructions, patience in queues, and courteous engagement with officials are hallmarks of civilised society. Disregard for these norms not only undermines safety but also projects a damaging image of the nation to the wider world.
The Emmason affair is not an isolated case. Former Edo State Governor and current Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, once found himself grounded after arriving late for an Air Peace flight. Witnesses alleged that he assaulted airline staff and ordered the closure of the terminal’s main entrance. This is hardly the conduct expected of a statesman.
More recently, a Nollywood-worthy episode unfolded at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, involving Fuji icon “King”, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1. In a viral video, he was seen exchanging heated words with officials after being prevented from boarding an aircraft.
Events took a dangerous turn when the aircraft, moving at near take-off speed, nearly clipped the 68-year-old musician’s head with its wing. Such an occurrence points to a serious breach of airport safety protocols, raising uncomfortable questions about operational discipline at Nigeria’s gateways.
According to accounts circulating online, Wasiu had attempted to board an aircraft while he was carrying an alcoholic drink and refused to relinquish it when challenged. His refusal led to de-boarding, after which the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, imposed a six-month “no-fly” ban, citing “unacceptable” conduct.
It is deeply concerning that individuals of such prominence, including Emmason’s pilot adversary, whose careers have exposed them to some of the most disciplined aviation environments in the world, should exhibit conduct that diminishes the nation’s reputation. True leadership, whether in politics, culture, or professional life, calls for restraint and decorum, all the more when exercised under public scrutiny.
Most egregiously, in Emmason’s case, reports that she was forcibly stripped in public and filmed for online circulation are deeply disturbing. This was an act of humiliation and a gross invasion of privacy, violating her right to dignity and falling short of the standards expected in modern aviation. No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be subjected to such degrading treatment.
Ibom Air must ensure its staff are trained to treat passengers with proper decorum at all times. If Emmason had broken the law, security personnel could have been called in to handle the matter lawfully. Instead, her ordeal turned into a public spectacle. Those responsible for assaulting her should face prosecution, and the airline should be compelled to compensate her. Emmason, for her part, should pursue legal redress to reinforce the principle that justice and civility must prevail in Nigeria’s skies.