Nigerian Labour Congress Calls for An International Crime of Ecocide
Summary
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) — Africa’s largest trade union federation, representing over six million workers — has publicly called for the recognition of ecocide as an international crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
This clear position aligns the NLC with growing global momentum to criminalise the most serious environmental harms — momentum now driven in part by African leadership. In September 2024, Vanuatu, Samoa, and Fiji formally submitted a proposal to amend the Rome Statute to include ecocide; the Democratic Republic of Congo subsequently became the first African nation to support the amendment.
The NLC’s policy document covers a broad range of social, economic and governance priorities, from minimum wage implementation to energy transition, food sovereignty, education reform, and the protection of Nigeria’s environment. Its support for ecocide law places environmental justice alongside workers’ rights and social protections in the national labour agenda.
This development also reflects a growing recognition — across the union movement and the business sector alike — that legal accountability for environmental destruction is not only essential to protecting workers and communities, but is also strategically aligned with building an economic system fit for the future.
James Gondi, Africa Director, Stop Ecocide International, said
“This is a significant and timely step. Nigerian workers are on the frontline of environmental destruction — from industrial waste and oil spills to deforestation and drinking water pollution. Recognising ecocide as a crime isn’t just about protecting nature; it’s about safeguarding the people who depend on it. For unions, ecocide law offers real leverage: it protects workers’ health and safety, strengthens legal accountability for corporate negligence, and supports a Just Transition by encouraging investment in clean industries and green job security. We welcome the NLC’s leadership and call on other unions to do the same.”
“Historically, Nigeria has witnessed large-scale environmental harm with little accountability for the perpetrators despite experiencing decades of the harmful effects of oil spills & gas flares, leading to vast damage to human life and ecosystems. Ecocide law would establish a new, criminal and individual standard of accountability for these acts”