Labour Unions Stage Protest Over Dismissal of 75 Workers in Lagos
Labour unions have taken a firm stand against the alleged dismissal of 75 workers at Global Plus Publishing Company (GPP) in Lagos, picketing the company's premises yesterday. The unions claim that the terminations were a direct response to the employees' decision to join trade unions, sparking a significant protest that saw the company's facilities locked and placards displayed demanding intervention from Christ Embassy pastor, Chris Oyakhilome.
Allegations of Victimisation and Legal Violations
The National Union of Printing, Publishing and Paper Products Workers (NUPPPROW) and the Pulp, Paper and Paper Products, Printing and Publishing Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PPAPPPAPSSAN) have accused GPP of victimising workers for union membership. According to the unions, the affected workers received dismissal notices at midnight, with the company citing redundancy as the reason. However, the unions argue that this action fails to comply with Section 20 of the Labour Act, which requires employers to inform workers' representatives of redundancy reasons, apply the "last-in, first-out" principle based on merit, skill, and reliability, and negotiate redundancy benefits where applicable.
Odoba Benjamin, Chairman of PPAPPPAPSSAN at GPP, criticised the company's management, led by Managing Director Sade Imoagene, for what he described as disappointing handling of the matter. He revealed that dismissal notices were sent through personal emails, further escalating tensions. The unions maintain that the redundancy claim is a pretext, pointing out that the dispute originated in August 2025 when workers decided to join unions, an action they say was resisted by management and ultimately led to the terminations.
Constitutional Rights and Inadequate Compensation
In addition to labour law violations, the unions cited Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees the right to freedom of association, including the right of workers to join trade unions. They reported that about 40 of the dismissed workers are members of NUPPPROW, affiliated with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), while others belong to PPAPPPAPSSAN, affiliated with the Trade Union Congress (TUC). The unions also highlighted that affected workers received what they termed inadequate payments under a "Long Service Award," with some reportedly paid less than N200,000, while longer-serving employees received higher sums, raising concerns about fairness and transparency.
Demands and Ongoing Protests
The unions have demanded the immediate reinstatement of the affected workers and called on labour centres, including the NLC and TUC, to intervene and support the workers. They warned that picketing and other forms of protest will continue until their demands are met, emphasising that failure to address the situation could encourage similar actions by other employers, potentially leading to broader labour unrest in the publishing industry and beyond.
Efforts to obtain a response from the management of Global Plus Publishing Company were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report, leaving the allegations unaddressed and the dispute unresolved.
