The IndustriALL Nigeria Youth Committee has called on young workers across the country to unite and organise for decent work, better wages, workplace protections and greater opportunities for career advancement.
The committee made the call as it commemorates the 2026 International Youth Day with a rally and awareness campaign in Lagos on Wednesday, August 12, under the theme, “Young Workers Rising for Dignity and Decent Work.”
The programme held at the Textile Labour House, 10 Acme Road, Ogba, Lagos.
Young workers from IndustriALL-affiliated unions, including the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, National Union of Electricity Employees, Steel and Engineering Workers’ Union of Nigeria, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, National Union of Chemical, Footwear, Rubber, Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, and Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, participated in the activities.
As part of the programme, the young workers embarked on a peaceful procession and awareness campaign from Acme Road towards Agidingbi Road.
The procession aimed at sensitising members of the public on the importance of trade unions while encouraging young workers to organise and join unions to protect their rights and strengthen their collective voice in the workplace.
According to the committee, millions of young workers continue to face unemployment, low wages, casual employment, unsafe working conditions and limited opportunities for career growth.
It cited the 2024 Labour Force Survey of the National Bureau of Statistics, which showed that about one in every seven young Nigerians was not in employment, education or training.
The committee said many other young people were trapped in precarious and insecure jobs with little prospect for advancement.
It argued that dignity and decent work should be regarded as rights rather than privileges, stressing that young workers should not be forced to choose between earning a living and preserving their dignity.
“Trade unions give workers a collective voice and the power to negotiate for fairness and justice in the workplace,” the committee said.
It noted that workers who had organised collectively over the years had secured better wages, safer workplaces, improved conditions of service and greater protection of workers’ rights.
The committee therefore urged young workers to become active in their workplaces and support efforts to achieve decent work for all.
It said solidarity among young workers was essential to challenging exploitation, defending workers’ rights and building a future where every young person could work with dignity.
“The future of work belongs to young workers. Let us rise for DIGNITY. Let us rise for DECENT WORK. Let us rise TOGETHER,” the committee said.
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