A major labour dispute has erupted following the alleged dismissal of 75 workers by Global Plus Publishing Company, a firm linked to Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy Church.
The mass sack, said to have occurred on March 13, 2026, has drawn sharp criticism from labour unions, who accuse the company of targeting employees for joining trade unions and disguising the action as redundancy.
In a joint statement, the National Union of Printing Publishing and Paper Products Workers and the PPAPPPAPSSAN described the move as a calculated attempt to suppress union activities.
According to the unions, 40 of the affected workers belong to NUPPPPROW, while 35 are members of PPAPPPAPSSAN.
“From all ramifications, this is not a redundancy exercise but a clear case of witch-hunt of workers for belonging to trade unions,” the statement said.
They alleged that sack letters were issued around midnight, describing the process as both “fraudulent” and intimidating.
“The company is turning into a slave camp where democratic rights of workers were flagrantly trampled upon,” the unions added.
In an appeal letter dated April 1, 2026, PPAPPPAPSSAN General Secretary Benedict A Ikegbulam called for urgent support from labour groups and civil society.
“PPAPPPAPSSAN humbly request your kind and urgent support by way of joining this union and NUPPPPROW to picket the sacking of 75 workers by management of Global Plus Publishing Company,” the letter read.
The unions argued that the redundancy claim violates Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of association, as well as Section 20 of the Labour Act, which outlines procedures for redundancy, including notifying unions and negotiating benefits.
“Section 40 guarantees the inalienable right of Nigerian workers to assemble and associate. Section 20 of the Labour Act mandates employers to inform unions of redundancy and negotiate benefits. None of these were followed,” they stated.
They also described the dismissals as discriminatory, alleging that workers who were not union members were spared.
“The company is owned by Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy, the church that preaches love, kindness, peace and justice. Ironically, those workers who were not members of unions were not sacked,” the letter added.
The unions warned that failure to challenge the action could embolden other employers to suppress union rights.
“If this trend is allowed to thrive, definitely many other companies will follow suit,” they said.
A protest has been scheduled to take place at the company’s premises in Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos, on April 7, 2026, with workers and supporters expected to picket the facility.
“The picketing and all other forms of resistance and struggles will continue until workers’ demands are met,” the unions declared.
They also urged Pastor Oyakhilome to respect labour laws and uphold workers’ rights.
“We call on Pastor Chris Oyakhilome to live what he preaches and stop using his companies to enslave Nigerian workers. He should obey the law and respect the democratic rights of Nigerian workers,” the unions said.
Global Plus Publishing Company, established in 2004, is known for printing high-volume publications, including religious materials, and is reportedly managed by officials associated with Christ Embassy.
Labour leaders emphasised the need for solidarity, describing the situation as a collective struggle.
“Solidarity forever. Aluta continues,” the statement concluded.
