Ibadan, Nigeria – The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has proposed taxing the profits of technology giants and automated industries to fund comprehensive retraining and upskilling programmes for workers at risk of displacement due to artificial intelligence (AI).
Speaking at the 2025 Conference of the Labour Writers Association of Nigeria in Ibadan, NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero warned that while AI is often hailed as a marker of efficiency, it is being leveraged by corporations to exploit workers and deepen inequality.
The conference, held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, focused on “The Future of Work in the Era of Artificial Intelligence,” bringing together labour leaders, journalists, and policymakers to discuss the challenges of automation and digital transformation.
“We must bargain for comprehensive retraining and upskilling programmes, funded by a tax on the excessive profits of the tech giants and automated industries,” Ajaero said.
He described the rise of AI as “the modern face of the class struggle,” cautioning that workers could face greater precarity as companies prioritize profit over people.
“They sell us a narrative of efficiency and progress, but we must see it for what it truly is: a tool for maximizing profit by de-skilling jobs, casualizing labour, and weakening our collective power,” he added.
The NLC president urged unions and policymakers to push for protective legislation to safeguard workers, including the “Right to Disconnect,” restrictions on algorithmic surveillance, and shared productivity gains through shorter workweeks with no loss of pay.
Ajaero also stressed the importance of journalists in highlighting labour challenges. “Your typewriters, recorders, and keyboards are no less important than our placards and negotiation tables. They are the instruments with which we shape the narrative and awaken the consciousness of the masses,” he said.
Citing recent disputes at the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical complex, Ajaero accused the company of violating Nigeria’s Labour Act and international conventions by attempting to limit union participation, blaming workers through media disinformation campaigns instead.
“Unity remains our most powerful weapon against corporate and technological exploitation,” he said. “There is no room for neutrality. They have their AI, but we have our WE. Our collective power, our solidarity, is the ultimate intelligence no machine can replicate or break.”
The conference concluded with calls for stronger legal frameworks, public advocacy, and collaboration between labour unions and media practitioners to ensure that the benefits of AI are socialized while its burdens do not fall disproportionately on workers.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
