The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State chapter, has expressed outrage over what it described as “deplorable and degrading” working conditions faced by staff of the National Theatre in Lagos.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment and dated September 15, 2025, the union reminded the federal government of its earlier correspondence on May 21, 2025, raising concerns about the state of staff welfare at the cultural landmark. The NLC lamented that four months after its initial petition, no action had been taken.
The letter noted that despite the appointment of a new board chairman, Mr. Disun Holloway, more than three months ago, staff welfare had not improved. Instead, workers are said to be operating “under open-air conditions—literally, under trees.”
The union accused Mr. Holloway of avoiding direct engagement with staff, while holding private meetings with the General Manager/CEO, Mrs. Tola Akerele, Central Bank officials, and members of the Bankers’ Committee.
Due process exhausted
According to the NLC, staff had already reported the matter to multiple authorities, including the Lagos State Government, the Ministry of Labour, the police, the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism, and the Central Bank of Nigeria. Despite these efforts, the union said, “no tangible improvement” had been achieved.
Violations of labour standards
The NLC insisted that the current situation violates both international and national labour laws, citing ILO Convention No. 190 and Section 17 of the Nigeria Labour Act, which guarantees workers the right to a safe and suitable environment once they report for duty.
Theatre not for privatization
The union stressed that the National Theatre remains a taxpayer-funded national monument and warned against any attempt to hand it over under the guise of corporate social responsibility or “veiled privatization tactics.”
Four-point demand and ultimatum
The Lagos NLC issued a 14-day ultimatum to the federal government to:
- Return staff to the rehabilitated National Theatre under safe and dignified conditions.
- Open inclusive stakeholder engagement on the management of the facility.
- Ensure transparency in the administration of the Theatre.
- Protect jobs in line with assurances by former Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, that no worker would be laid off after rehabilitation.
Threat of industrial action
NLC Lagos chairman, Comrade Funmi Agnes Sessi, warned that the union was prepared to take all lawful actions, including protests and industrial action, if the government failed to meet its demands.
“This is not just about working conditions but about the dignity of workers and the preservation of Nigeria’s cultural heritage,” the statement read. “Enough is enough.”
Comrade Funmi Agnes Sessi
NLC Chairman, Lagos State
CC:
- Honourable Minister, Ministry of Arts, Culture & Creative Economy
- Director, Trade Union Services & Industrial Relations
- The Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria
- Commissioner of Police, Lagos State
- GM/CEO, National Theatre
- NEC National, Abuja
- AUCPTRE
- RATTAWU
