By Chinedu Echianu
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a free, fair, transparent and inclusive electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
TUC President General, Comrade Festus Osifo, made the call in Abuja at the end of the Congress’ National Administrative Council meeting, stressing that only leaders genuinely elected by Nigerians can be responsive and accountable to the people.
Osifo urged INEC to ensure that the rules governing the 2027 elections are clear, transparent and open to all, warning against a process that allows moneybags, political bigwigs and godfathers to determine who occupies elective positions.
He said, “It is when we have leaders that are truly elected by the people, when we have leaders that are truly elected by the electorate, that is when they will be responsive.”
The TUC President General added that credible elections would strengthen accountability and enable Nigerians to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
On insecurity, Osifo commended the security agencies for their efforts in tackling terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, but urged the Federal Government to intensify its response to the worsening security situation in parts of the country.
He called for increased funding for security, arguing that the protection of lives and property must remain the government’s foremost responsibility.
According to him, “We must first of all be alive to enjoy the dividend of the infrastructures, to drive on those roads, to be able to feed and to send our children to school.”
The TUC also expressed concern over the deaths of about 37 so called illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Niger State, describing the incident as an aberration and demanding decisive action against anyone found culpable.
Osifo said the union would not want the report of the government-constituted investigative committee to end up gathering dust, insisting that those responsible must be dealt with in accordance with the law.
On the economy, the labour centre acknowledged improvements in some macroeconomic indicators, particularly inflation and the foreign exchange market, but maintained that more needed to be done to strengthen the naira and reduce economic pressure on Nigerians.
Osifo said the Congress believed the naira should trade at between 700 and 800 naira to the dollar, arguing that a stronger currency would help reduce the cost of fuel, fertiliser, food and other goods with significant foreign exchange components.
He also raised concerns over the continued challenges confronting the health sector, particularly the non-implementation of agreements that led to the suspension of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) strike.
The TUC urged the Minister of Health, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, to intervene and ensure that the outstanding issues are resolved, warning that the two labour centres could take further action if the matter remains unresolved.
The Congress also called for urgent measures to revive Nigeria’s textile industry, citing mass layoffs and high production costs, particularly those arising from expensive electricity and other energy sources.
Osifo said reviving the sector would help restore millions of jobs and urged the Federal, State and Local Governments to work together to address the challenges facing textile manufacturers.
