The Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association (CCESSA) and the National Union of Civil Engineering Construction Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW) have issued a threat to halt work on major roads due to an ongoing crisis in the industry.
Nairametrics reports that so far, 30,000 workers have lost their jobs, and approximately 52,000 more are at risk of losing their employment if the situation does not improve.
Over the past three months, many workers have been laid off, and job security remains precarious if the conflicts are not resolved.
These unions, affiliated with the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), represent both senior and junior staff in the construction industry.
According to CCESSA National President Ayodeji Adeyemo and NUCECFWW President Stephen Okoro, the dire situation faced by construction workers stems from a disagreement between the Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) and the Minister of Works.
The industry has been experiencing a slowdown due to this conflict.
Adeyemo explained that the crisis resulted from the Minister's unilateral imposition of new standard conditions of contracts, which contravened the existing conditions approved by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP). This has negatively impacted employment in the industry, leading to the mass layoff of Nigerian workers who are members of the unions.
Adeyemo highlighted that the construction industry is Nigeria’s second-largest employer after the government. However, he expressed concern that many workers are being laid off by construction companies, exacerbating the crisis in the sector.
