Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress have commenced a picketing exercise at the Abuja Continental Hotel over allegations of anti-labour practices and the management's refusal to allow certain workers to unionise. The industrial action, which began on Monday, August 24, 2026, saw union members attempting to lock the hotel's gates, though they were met with resistance from police officers and hotel officials. Despite the resistance, the entrance to the hotel was effectively blocked by the unions, disrupting access to the premises. The protest marks a significant escalation in the long-running dispute between organised labour and the management of the hotel, which has been accused of violating workers' fundamental rights by allegedly preventing re-engaged and newly employed workers from joining or forming trade unions.
At the heart of the dispute is an agreement reached between the hotel management and the affected unions on October 15, 2022, which contained an undertaking that at least 70 per cent of the affected workers would be re-engaged when the hotel reopened following renovation. The unions are now demanding that the management honour that agreement and address what they have described as unfair labour practices. They have also cited International Labour Organisation Conventions C87 and C98, which protect freedom of association and collective bargaining, arguing that the hotel's actions contravene the Nigerian Constitution, the Trade Union Act, and relevant ILO conventions. Workers and union members participating in the picketing displayed placards bearing messages including "Fair Treatment, Fair Pay," "No Intimidation," and "No To Modern Slavery," underscoring the deep sense of grievance among the labour unions.
The TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo, has been at the forefront of the campaign, warning that hotels preventing unionisation would face the full weight of organised labour. Osifo had specifically mentioned the Abuja Continental Hotel while accusing its management of preventing workers from being organised. The unions have alleged that workers re-engaged after the hotel's renovation, as well as newly employed staff, have been prevented from exercising their right to unionise. They are demanding the immediate recognition of workers' rights to organise, fair treatment and remuneration, as well as an end to alleged intimidation of workers seeking to join trade unions. The unions have also warned that workers must not be denied their rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining under the guise of employment conditions.
However, in a dramatic twist that has complicated the labour action, workers seconded to the Abuja Continental Hotel by various outsourcing firms have formally dissociated themselves from the picketing, insisting that the action does not represent their position or interests. In a statement on Sunday, August 23, 2026, a spokesman for the workers, Comrade Samuel Esiakpoyere, said the employees enjoy open channels of communication with the management and have no cause to resort to industrial action. He cited Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association, and Section 12 of the TUC Constitution, which makes membership of the union voluntary. "Workers are constitutionally free to decide whether or not to belong to a trade union. We can choose to join or not. It's not by force," he declared.
The workers further argued that they have no need for unionism at this time because they already enjoy the benefits unions claim to be fighting for. "For years, we have received our salaries and benefits regularly. We have HMO and other staff welfare packages. Our management operates an open-door policy and we have existing channels to address any concerns," Esiakpoyere stated. He maintained that the employees are satisfied with their current relationship with the management and believe their interests are being adequately protected. "Our decision not to participate in any picketing is deliberate. We urge the public and our guests not to associate us with the planned industrial action," he added.
The hotel management has also moved to distance itself from the allegations, stating that it fully recognises and respects the right of its employees to freedom of association. In a statement, the management said it has at no time prevented, intimidated, coerced, or otherwise sought to influence any staff member in the exercise of their constitutional right to freely associate. The management added that it holds the Trade Union Congress and the entire labour movement in the highest regard as critical partners in nation building and workers' welfare. The workers' spokesman also expressed confidence in the management's commitment to their welfare, career growth, and aspirations, adding that the relationship is supporting efforts to reposition the hotel as a major hospitality destination in the Federal Capital Territory.
The picketing comes amid growing concerns by organised labour over alleged violations of workers' rights and the use of casual employment arrangements to weaken union activities. The action is expected to continue until the unions' concerns are addressed and an agreement is reached with the hotel management. However, the workers have assured guests and business partners that the planned labour action would not disrupt operations at the hotel. "We will continue to ensure that the hotel operates normally and we assure all guests, partners, and stakeholders of uninterrupted world-class service," the workers' spokesman said. As the standoff continues, the dispute highlights the tension between the rights of workers to organise and the rights of individual employees to choose whether or not to join a union, a tension that is likely to resonate far beyond the gates of the Abuja Continental Hotel.
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