LAGOS, Nigeria – The International Trade Union Confederation ranked Nigeria among the 10 worst countries globally for workers’ rights in its 2026 Global Rights Index published on Thursday, June 4, 2026.
Okay News reports that the organization attributed the ranking to government authorities and employers engaging in union-busting, intimidation of workers, arbitrary arrests, and attacks on trade union independence.
The annual index assesses 150 countries on their adherence to fundamental labor rights, including the freedom to organize, strike, and engage in collective bargaining. The global labor body noted that the 2026 findings indicate the worst global conditions since the creation of the index.
The report cited actions by the Edo State Government, which occupied the Nigeria Labour Congress secretariat in Benin City in December 2024. The state government locked the facility and installed an alternative leadership structure over the elected state chairman. In August 2025, the Edo State House of Assembly passed a motion to halt the inauguration of a caretaker committee, resulting in union officials being chased across the city and inaugurating the committee in a secret location.
The index identified specific instances of corporate union-busting across the country. The report stated that MTN Nigeria denied certain workers the right to join the Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, while Daewoo Nigeria prevented employees from affiliating with their preferred unions.
At the Dangote Refinery, the report indicated that management compelled workers to join an employer-backed union and dismissed employees who attempted to affiliate with the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers. The organization concluded its assessment by directing governments and employers to uphold international labor standards and protect the right to organize without reprisal.
