The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has vowed to reject the National Assembly to remove labour matters, including the minimum wage, from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list, where states would determine their workers’ wages.

The union described the proposed amendment as anti-worker, retrogressive, and a threat to the unity and strength of the labour movement.

At the first quadrennial delegates’ conference of the TUC Lagos State council, the President-General, Comrade Festus Osifo, said: “We are alarmed by recent legislative moves aimed at removing labour from the Exclusive Legislative List and transferring it to the Concurrent List.

“The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria strongly and categorically rejects this dangerous bill and will resist it with every lawful means at our disposal.

“Accordingly, all State Councils are hereby placed on red alert and should be prepared to act promptly upon receiving directives from the national headquarters. We must defend the hard-won rights of Nigerian workers without hesitation.

“I urge the Lagos State Council-and all our state chapters—not to hesitate in escalating unresolved industrial issues to the national secretariat. Where local mechanisms fall short, we shall intervene as a united front, employing robust engagement and determined advocacy to deliver justice and protect the welfare of workers.

Osifo urged the incoming executives to take the union to the next level.

“I wish the newly elected leadership a successful and impactful tenure. May your administration be defined by innovation, transparency, and unity. Let us keep the fire of solidarity burning bright as we move forward together.”

President, Precious Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA), Comrade Sesan Rufus, described the theme of the conference: “Trade Union independence and discipline: The shield of workers’ rights and dignity”, is not only timely but also urgent in the face of deepening socio-economic crises in Nigeria and the world.

He said Independence is the life blood of trade unionism.

He said: “Without independence, unions lose their voice, their courage, and their ability to represent the true interests of workers. Independence means freedom from undue political interference, corporate manipulation, or state suppression.

“It means unions can negotiate, advocate, and, when necessary, challenge unjust systems without fear or compromise”.

Rufus said the independence of unions is not just a principle but a survival strategy in a system that constantly seeks to erode workers’ dignity.

“To shield workers’ rights and dignity, we must embrace a new culture of principled discipline. Discipline that rejects opportunism, that prioritises the collective interest above personal gains, and that revives the spirit of solidarity and mass action.

“Union independence also demands financial discipline. A union that cannot fund its activities without relying on state subvention or backdoor corporate sponsorship will struggle to maintain its autonomy.

“Together, independence and discipline form a shield—a protective barrier that defends workers from exploitation, unsafe working conditions, unfair wages, and discrimination. They empower us to uphold human dignity in the workplace and beyond. They remind us that workers are not commodities but human beings with dreams, families, and rights that must be respected.As delegates, you carry a historic responsibility.’’

He said the conference must be a rallying point for a new phase of workers’ struggles.’