The Nigeria Labour Congress has delivered a bold warning to the Federal Government; telling them to return billions allegedly siphoned from workers’ insurance funds and restore pension oversight within seven days or brace for a nationwide shutdown.

In a communiqué issued after its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Thursday, the Nigeria Labour Congress accused the Federal Government of unlawfully diverting 40 percent of workers’ contributions from the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) into national revenue, in direct breach of the laws that established the fund.

“The NSITF must account for and return all diverted funds within seven working days from today,” said NLC President Joe Ajaero in the statement.
“If nothing is done by the end of this period, the NLC will no longer guarantee industrial peace.”

The union condemned the move as an “assault on workers’ social protection rights,” stressing that NSITF funds drawn from employees’ payroll deductions are meant to provide a safety net in cases of injury, illness, or unemployment, not to be treated as government revenue.

The NLC also called for the immediate constitution of the PenCom board, arguing that its prolonged absence violates the Pension Reform Act and undermines the tripartite oversight structure meant to protect workers’ retirement savings.

“This unlawful vacuum has allowed the government to solely superintend over the pension funds contributed by workers and employers, increasing the risk of mismanagement and political interference,” the union warned.

It also called for a full status report on all pension funds to be submitted to the NLC within the same seven-day period.

Meanwhile, the NLC announced the dissolution of its Edo State Council, citing unethical conduct and violations of the union’s constitution. A caretaker committee has been installed to oversee the council’s affairs until fresh elections are held. The labour body concluded by reaffirming its commitment to defending workers’ rights and maintaining strict internal discipline across its state councils.

As of the time of filing this report, the Federal Government had not issued any official response to the NLC’s claims or ultimatum.