The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) is urging governments across Africa to ensure that industrial development directly improves the standard of living for the average citizen. During a recent meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, General Secretary Akhator Joel Odigie emphasized that economic growth is ineffective if it only widens the gap between the wealthy and the poor.
Odigie specifically criticized the Nigerian government’s proposed plan to eliminate electricity subsidies by 2027. He argued that this policy serves the interests of international financial organizations like the IMF and the World Bank rather than the Nigerian people. According to the union, removing these subsidies will drive up poverty rates and make basic energy unaffordable for the working class.
Highlighting the reality that over 600 million Africans currently lack reliable electricity, Odigie argued that industrialization must be achieved through energy justice. He noted that sustainable growth is possible if leaders focus on technology transfer, local skills development, and sufficient infrastructure financing. He pointed to Finland as a successful model where strong public oversight ensures electricity remains affordable even when private investors are involved.
The union also called for a stronger partnership between trade unions and African climate negotiators ahead of COP31. Odigie stressed that labor unions aim to hold leaders accountable, likening their role to keeping officials focused on the daily struggles of ordinary citizens. He concluded that true prosperity in Africa can only be measured by the ability of workers to access affordable, reliable energy and maintain a decent quality of life.
