One of the challenges women face is adequate female representation in trade unionism.
As the world marks the 2025 International Women’s Day, stakeholders are calling for promotion of women to leadership positions in trade unions.
Every year, the world focuses attention on the challenges women face by commemorating the International Women’s Day on the 8th of March.
In March, 2023, the World Bank released a report that pegged the female labour force at 48.44 per cent.
In trade unionism at the national level, labour centres usually have a General Secretary, Deputy Secretary and National President at the helm of affairs.
At the state level, labour centres have Chairpersons as heads.
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC does not have any female chairperson across the country, but has a few state Secretaries.
Currently, only the Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC has a woman as the Chairperson, while 36 others are all male.
Affiliate trade unions in Nigeria also lack adequate women representation.
The International Labour Organisation, ILO conducted research and provided information on gender equality and trade union action.
The organisation stressed the need for promotion of women to leadership positions in trade unions, non-discrimination and equal pay for work of equal value, work life balance, as well as end to violence and harassment against women in the world of work.
The General Secretary of the NLC, Emmanuel Ugboaja spoke on the administrative structure of labour centres.
