NLC Threatens Mass Action Over Electoral Act Amendment

By Chinedu Echianu

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned of possible mass action or a total boycott of future elections if the Senate fails to clearly mandate real-time electronic transmission of election results in the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act.

In a press release Sunday, signed by its President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the NLC says Nigerian workers and citizens were “watching closely” as confusion deepens over the Senate’s handling of amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act, particularly provisions relating to electronic transmission of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The labour union expresses “deep concern” over what it described as contradictory narratives emerging from the Senate, noting that the lack of clarity was undermining public trust and posing a threat to democratic integrity.

According to the NLC, public records indicate that a proposal to compel INEC to transmit results electronically in real time was not adopted, with the Senate retaining discretionary language instead.

“This has generated nationwide apprehension, and subsequent explanations have only added to the confusion,” the statement said, warning that legislative ambiguity at this stage risks institutionalising doubt in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The NLC calls on the Senate to issue an immediate, official, and unambiguous account of its proceedings, including the exact wording of the provisions passed and the rationale behind them.

It also urged the leadership of the National Assembly to ensure that the harmonisation process produces a final bill with “crystal-clear” provisions on the transmission and collation of election results.

Emphasising the importance of transparency ahead of the 2027 general elections, the NLC said the amended Electoral Act must provide a clear and compulsory mandate for INEC to electronically transmit and collate results from polling units in real time.

The labour body warned that failure to do so could provoke widespread resistance. “Failure to add electronic transmission in real time will lead to mass action before, during and after the election or total boycott of the election,” the statement said, adding that Nigeria must avoid a repeat of the confusion that followed the enactment of recent tax laws.

The NLC concluded by urging lawmakers to prioritise “honest, people-focused legislation” to restore confidence in the electoral system and safeguard democratic credibility.