By Michael Oche
In the sweltering heat of Nigeria’s industrial hubs, workers toil tirelessly, their labour fueling the nation’s economic growth. Yet, they face an unseen threat: climate change. Rising temperatures, flooding, heat stress, and extreme weather events imperil their health, safety, and productivity
In Nigeria, public service workers, particularly those at the frontline of delivering essential services, are facing an evolving crisis as climate change and inadequate welfare conditions converge, creating a dual threat to their well-being.
Trade Unions, led by Public Services International (PSI) and its affiliates, have begun advocating for the inclusion of climate change impacts in collective bargaining agreements with the government and employers to protect workers’ rights in the face of these mounting challenges.
At a recent workshop held in Abuja, Abiodun Badru, PSI Project Coordinator for English Speaking West-Africa, emphasized the growing toll climate change is having on public sector workers, especially women.
Badru highlighted that floods, increasingly frequent due to climate change, have become a major concern. Public service workers, who are often at the forefront of responding to disasters, are disproportionately affected. In addition to their professional responsibilities, many are also members of communities impacted by these disasters.
“Flooding is not just a natural disaster anymore; it’s one that is driven by climate change,” Badru noted. “Workers are not only providing services during these emergencies, but they also live in the communities affected by the floods. Their dual exposure—both as service providers and as residents—necessitates special attention and intervention.”
Since 2020, PSI has been actively involved in building capacity for over 300 affiliate members in Nigeria to address climate change’s effects on public services and communities. Through these initiatives, the organization has worked to equip workers with the knowledge and resources necessary to better navigate the challenges climate change poses in their professional and personal lives.
Sandra Van Niekerk, PSI’s Project Coordinator for Climate Change and Africa Local and Regional Government (LRG), in her reaction emphasized that there are various aspects of climate change that need to be addressed through collective bargaining. She outlined how heat stress, in particular, has emerged as a critical issue affecting workers across various sectors, including health, electricity, and local government.
“Workers are increasingly struggling to carry out their jobs effectively because of climate change,” Van Niekerk stated. “Heat stress has become a major global concern. We need to negotiate protections such as limiting work during high temperatures, ensuring adequate breaks, or establishing cooling stations where workers can take respite during extreme weather.”
Van Niekerk’s comments highlight the urgency of addressing not only heat stress but a broad range of health and safety issues that have arisen due to climate change.
Flooding, transportation challenges, and personal safety concerns have all become barriers to workers fulfilling their duties effectively. Unions are now pushing for policies that ensure safe working conditions, particularly in emergencies, while also demanding employers be held accountable for protecting workers’ rights.
For public service workers, climate change is not the only pressing issue. Poor welfare conditions, exacerbated by food insecurity and general insecurity in many regions, are putting additional strain on workers. Comrade Marwan Mustapha,
President of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), called attention to the difficult conditions facing judicial workers in rural areas. He stressed the need for education and training to help workers adapt to climate-related risks and advocated for urgent intervention to improve workers’ welfare, particularly in conflict-affected areas.
“The insecurity driven by climate change has greatly affected JUSUN members,” Mustapha explained. “Some have even been kidnapped by bandits while carrying out their duties.”
Badru said the unions’ message is clear: as climate change continues to reshape the landscape of Nigeria, public service workers must be equipped with the necessary protections and resources to perform their essential roles effectively. By including climate change impacts in collective bargaining agreements, unions hope to safeguard the health, safety, and rights of workers while ensuring they remain resilient in the face of future crises.
She emphasized that the fight for quality public services, particularly in an era of climate change, remains a priority for PSI and its affiliates.
The unions said access to essential services like water, electricity, and healthcare is seen as critical in building climate resilience, both for workers and the communities they serve. The unions are urging the government and employers to take immediate action, not only to protect workers but to ensure the continued delivery of critical services to the public.
As the effects of climate change become increasingly apparent, it is crucial that public service workers, who are vital to the country’s response to disasters, are supported and safeguarded. The push for inclusion of climate change considerations in collective bargaining represents a significant step toward achieving this goal.