Navigating The Era: Challenges And Opportunities Of Organized Labour In 21st Century Nigeria

• Abraham P. Donatus

  Adamawa State University, Mubi, Faculty of Social Sciences, Communication and Media Studies, Department of Sociology

  Author

The study titled Navigating the Era: Challenges and Opportunities of Organized Labour in 21st Century Nigeria examines the evolving constraints, and prospects of trade unions in a rapidly changing socio-economic and political environment. Despite their historical significance in advancing workers’ rights and socio-political reforms, organised labour in Nigeria faces internal weaknesses, including leadership crises, corruption, low membership participation, and factionalism. Externally, they contend with government suppression, economic instability, globalisation, casualisation of labour, technological disruption, and a decline in bargaining power. Anchored on Functionalism Theory, Equity Theory and Conflict Theory, the study adopts a qualitative, descriptive approach, relying on secondary data from scholarly articles, policy documents, and institutional reports published. Findings reveal that while organised labour remains a critical force in industrial relations, its relevance is undermined by internal governance issues and external socio-economic pressures. However, emerging opportunities exist in leveraging digital technology for mobilisation, expanding representation to gig economy workers, and forming alliances with civil society and international organisations to amplify policy influence. The study recommends strengthening internal governance through transparency and accountability, embracing digital tools for advocacy, broadening membership to cover emerging labour sectors, and building strategic partnerships for greater influence in labour policy formulation. Overall, the research underscores that the future strength and legitimacy of organised labour in Nigeria depend on its ability to adapt to the demands of a dynamic 21st-century labour landscape. 

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