The Steel and Engineering Workers’ Union of Nigeria (SEAWUN) has warned that failure by government and employers to implement negotiated agreements could undermine industrial peace and trigger renewed disputes in the workplace. This warning was given by the union’s president-general, Comrade Oyabugbe O. Sunday, at the 2026 Annual Industrial Relations Conference of SEAWUN, held in Ibadan, Oyo State. The conference had the theme, “Collective Bargaining, Strikes and the Quest for Industrial Peace in Nigeria.”
Oyabugbe emphasized that effective collective bargaining and sustained engagement among government, employers, and workers are critical to resolving industrial disputes and promoting sustainable industrial peace. He noted that the conference aimed to examine contemporary industrial relations challenges, including the challenges affecting the effective implementation of negotiated agreements. According to him, this is crucial for addressing industrial disputes and promoting sustainable industrial peace.
The SEAWUN leader also drew attention to the worsening economic conditions confronting workers, citing rising living costs, inflation, transportation and food prices, as well as declining purchasing power. These, he said, were putting enormous pressure on workers and their families. He called for closer collaboration among government, employers, and trade unions to develop policies that would protect workers’ earnings, improve living standards, and create sustainable employment opportunities.
Oyabugbe urged the government to pursue policies capable of stimulating production, creating jobs, and strengthening local industries, while ensuring that the benefits of economic growth are fairly distributed. He stressed that the economy could only achieve meaningful growth when there is adequate investment in productive sectors, infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, education, and human capital development. This, he believes, is essential for sustainable economic growth.
On the union’s achievements during the period under review, Oyabugbe disclosed that SEAWUN had successfully negotiated a N40,000 increase in the salaries and wages of workers under the National Joint Industrial Council (NJIC) agreement. He also mentioned that the union was preparing to commence negotiations with employers for additional palliatives to cushion the impact of the current economic hardship on workers. Proposals on workers’ palliatives had already been sent to the Auto and Precision Employers Associations.
Oyabugbe also highlighted other achievements of the union, including the negotiation of the restructuring of workers’ gratuity arrangements at Jubaili Bros Engineering Limited. He said the union had also commenced engagement with Cummins West Africa following the company’s proposed sale of a majority stake in its business to Alkan FZE. The union’s immediate concerns were the protection of workers’ accrued gratuity and other entitlements, preservation of jobs, and continued recognition of the union after the proposed change of ownership.
Finally, Oyabugbe urged workers to participate actively in the democratic process and vote for candidates and programmes that demonstrated genuine commitment to economic development, workers’ welfare, job creation, and industrial peace. He also called on political parties and candidates to make workers’ welfare a central part of their campaign programmes, while urging all stakeholders to work towards a peaceful, credible, free, and fair electoral process. A stable political environment, he said, is essential for investment, economic growth, and industrial harmony.
Key points
- SEAWUN warns against failure to implement negotiated agreements
- Effective collective bargaining critical to resolving industrial disputes
- SEAWUN achieves N40,000 salary increase for workers under NJIC agreement
