By Michael Oche
Trade unions, media professionals and other stakeholders in Nigeria’s labour sector have called on the Nigerian government to urgently confront the twin scourges of poverty and inequality.
Tlhe call formed part of discussions and resolutions at the second edition of the annual Labour Correspondents Association of Nigeria (LACAN), Conference held in Abuja with the Theme: “Improving Internal Resource Mobilization for Financing Anti-Poverty and Inequality Interventions in Nigeria”
The Conference held with support from the African regional organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) came amidst 2025 Oxfam report on inequality in Africa which revealed extreme levels of wealth concentration and systemic exclusion that are undermining social stability and workers’ rights in the continent.
Speakers at the Conference suggested ways government can mobilise funds, internally to address Nigeria’s widening inequality and poverty.
In his message to the Conference, ITUC-Africa General Secretary, Akhator Joel Odigie, drew attention to the 2025 Oxfam report on inequality in Africa, describing its findings as a wake-up call for African leaders to take decisive action to redistribute wealth and address widening social gaps.
Odigie noted that according to the report, Africa’s four richest individuals possess more wealth than half of the continent’s 750 million people combined.
The ITUC-Africa General Secretary described Nigeria’s situation as one of the starkest examples of how wealth concentration and weak taxation systems deepen poverty.
He called on the Nigerian government to urgently take genuine and accounable steps to address the problem of inequality and poverty.
Our correspondent reports that Oxfam in its report had said that the top 10 percent controls an overwhelming 90 percent of Nigeria’s resources, perpetuating crippling inequality.
Odigie said this reflect a growing disconnect between economic growth figures and the lived realities of working people.
Citing Oxfam’s estimate that a one percent tax on the wealth of Nigeria’s richest citizens could generate billions of naira annually, Odigie urged the government to implement progressive taxation measures that could fund quality education, healthcare, social protection, and job creation programmes.
“These are not radical ideas,” he stressed. “They are moral and economic imperatives if Nigeria is serious about reducing inequality and restoring hope to its citizens.”
He also called for a review of Nigeria’s tax incentives and exemptions regime, which, according to Oxfam, drains the treasury of critical revenue.
Odigie said that closing loopholes, curbing illicit financial flows, and ensuring that multinational companies pay fair taxes could significantly strengthen the country’s capacity to deliver essential services.
The ITUC-Africa General Secretary further urged journalists and labour correspondents to sustain their watchdog role by holding policymakers accountable for how public resources are raised and spent.
He emphasised the need for accountability in funds allocated and spent on social protection programmes such as the conditional cash transfer for vulnerable households being implemented by the government.
In her address, ILO Country Director for Nigeria, Ghana Venessa Phala said the theme of the summit could not have been more timely, noting that as Nigeria continues to navigate complex socio-economic challenges, the need to strengthen domestic resource mobilization to fund inclusive and sustainable development has become a national imperative.
“Poverty and inequality are not just statistics-they are lived realities for millions of Nigerians. They manifest in limited access to decent jobs, education, healthcare, and social protection. Tackling these issues requires more than good intentions; it demands strategic investment, policy coherence, and a shared commitment to social justice,” she said.
Represented my Mr Udo Pius, the ILO director said her Organization believes that decent work is the most effective route out of poverty.
“But for this to happen, governments must be able to mobilize and allocate resources in ways that prioritize the needs of workers, especially those in vulnerable and informal employment.This includes financing programmes that promote job creation, skills development, social protection, and inclusive growth.”
She commended LACAN for its continued dedication to amplifying the voices of workers and labour stakeholders, reminding the association that their role as journalists and communicators is vital, not only in informing the public but also in shaping policy conversations and holding institutions accountable.
“You are the bridge between the world of work and the wider society. As you engage in today’s discussions, we encourage you to explore innovative financing mechanisms, such as progressive taxation, improved public financial management, and partnerships that leverage both public and private sector resources. These are not just technical solutions-they are pathways to dignity, equity, and resilience.
“The ILO remains committed to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to build a fairer and more inclusive economy. Through our Decent Work Country Programme and collaboration with government, employers, workers, and civil society, we continue to promote policies that reduce poverty, close inequality gaps, and ensure that no one is left behind.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi in his keynote address expressed the government’s readiness to confront the issue of casualisation of labour, describing it as one of the major challenges in the country.
Dingyadi said growing casualisation of labour undermines productivity and national stability, noting that the government was putting in place relevant measures to engage employers of labour to promote decent jobs with a a view of ending casualisation.
“The Federal Government will continue to strengthen policies that protect workers and create jobs that guarantee dignity, fairness and productivity,” he said.
He commended LACAN for its role in shaping public understanding of labour issues and assured that the ministry would continue to partner with journalists to promote decent work.
Also speaking at the event, that attracted key stakeholders in the nation’s labour sector, the Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mr Silas Agara, commended LACAN for providing a platform to discuss sustainable employment generation and decent work.
The NDE boss ,represented by Mrs Amezhi Apia, Director, Special Duties, said NDE had trained more than 33,800 youths and resettled 4,683 beneficiaries with start-up kits and soft loans.
“The Directorate remains committed to reducing unemployment and poverty to the barest minimum as there is no alternative to doing so,” he said.
Earlier, the Chairman of LACAN, Mr Patrick Abulu, described the conference as a call to action for a fairer and more inclusive labour environment.
Abulu added that the theme underscored the need for homegrown solutions to poverty and inequality through fair labour recruitment and decent work practices.
