By Paul Joseph
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has issued a robust condemnation of economic sanctions imposed by the United States of America, saying no nation should be subjected to external interference, coercive economic measures or crippling blockades that undermine its sovereignty and jeopardise the welfare of its citizens.
Speaking on Tuesday during the conference of the Nigeria Movement of Solidarity with Cuba (NMSC) in Abuja, themed “Cuba and all countries have the right to live,” TUC President-General Festus Osifo stressed that sanctions and external pressures hit ordinary workers hardest — limiting access to essential goods, services and opportunities.
“As trade unionists, our concern is always for the working class and the vulnerable. Sanctions and external pressures often impact ordinary workers the most limiting access to essential goods, services, and opportunities,” Osifo said, as he reaffirmed the TUC’s solidarity with the workers and people of Cuba in their pursuit of peace, economic stability and national development.
The meeting, which drew labour leaders, activists and diplomats, condemned what speakers described as continued interference by powerful states in the internal affairs of sovereign nations.
“We therefore reject the continued interference of the United States of America in the internal affairs of Cuba, as well as policies that impose hardship on Cuban workers and citizens,” Osifo added.
Also addressing the conference, former Interior Minister and honorary president of the NMSC, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, raised serious concerns about the humanitarian impact of the sanctions on vulnerable groups in Cuba.
He warned that sick children and elderly citizens are facing life-threatening conditions because fuel and energy supplies have been blocked, leaving hospitals and laboratories without reliable power.
Aregbesola urged Africans and global citizens to show solidarity with Cuba, saying countries such as Venezuela and Mexico face punitive measures for engaging in trade or providing humanitarian assistance to the Caribbean nation.
“This is the time Cuba needs solidarity from all peoples of the world,” he said, framing the call as part of a broader struggle for universal peace and justice.
The Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Miriam Morales Palmero, also appealed for expanded and sustained actions in favour of Cuba across trade unions, academic institutions, youth and community platforms, and the media. Her remarks underscored the shared ties between Nigeria and Cuba, rooted in history, tradition and mutual support.
The NMSC gathering reflects growing global pushback against sanctions regimes that critics say disproportionately harm ordinary citizens, a sentiment echoed in international forums where the United Nations has repeatedly called for an end to the decades-long embargo against Cuba.
As the debate over sanctions and sovereign rights continues, Nigerian labour leaders are urging African and global partners to stand firm against coercive external pressures and advocate for peaceful, equitable international relations.
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