The Nigeria Union of Mine Workers (NUMW) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and Dele Alake for their advocacy for greater African ownership and value addition in the continent’s mineral resources, urging the Federal Government to formally include mining workers in the implementation of the initiative.
In a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Hamza Muhammad on Tuesday, the union said the position presented by Vice President Shettima on behalf of President Tinubu at the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) high-level roundtable on critical minerals development in Africa reflected the concerns and aspirations of workers in Nigeria’s mining sector.
The union particularly welcomed President Tinubu’s emphasis on ensuring that Africa derives greater economic and industrial benefits from its mineral wealth rather than remaining primarily an exporter of raw materials.
According to NUMW, the President’s statement that “the worth of a mine must be counted in the lives it improves” captured the concerns of workers and mining communities across Nigeria.
It also highlighted another statement attributed to the president: “For generations, Africa has furnished the materials of prosperity elsewhere. Our duty is to ensure that the future being fashioned from African minerals has room for African ambition.”
NUMW said the proposed shift towards mineral processing, refining, battery production and component manufacturing in Africa could create more employment opportunities and strengthen local economies.
The union, however, said workers must be represented in the implementation of the continental mining agenda.
“Our humble appeal is that, as you champion this continental alliance, we respectfully draw your attention to a critical stakeholder that must not be left out: the African Federation of Mining Unions (AFMU), of which the Nigeria Union of Mine Workers (NUMW) is a proud and active member,” the statement said.
The union argued that workers should have a seat at the table if the continent is to effectively address illegal mining, promote local content, and ensure that mineral value addition translates into jobs.
NUMW therefore called for the formal inclusion of AFMU and NUMW in the AMSG implementation framework and the proposed Continental Integration and Economic Assurance Declaration.
It also urged the compulsory registration of mining-sector workers and operational mining companies with the union, saying this would strengthen efforts to tackle illegal mining, child labour and other unsafe or exploitative practices.
The union further proposed a partnership with government to organise artisanal miners into cooperatives, improve workplace safety, promote fair wages and facilitate skills transfer.
NUMW said organized labour could play a monitoring role in the mining sector by ensuring that workers are formally registered and better integrated into the industry.
The union also welcomed the reported increase in revenue from the mining sector, citing figures of ₦6 billion in 2023 and more than ₦70 billion in 2025, and argued that stronger collaboration with organised labour could help further improve revenue collection and reduce leakages.
The Federal Government has previously said its mining reforms are focused on local value addition and formalising artisanal mining. In June 2026, the State House said President Tinubu had urged AMSG member countries to work together to strengthen Africa’s bargaining power in the global mineral market and prevent the continent from being reduced to a source of raw materials.
Vice President Shettima has also said the administration is making local value addition a central principle of its mining reforms, while reporting that Nigeria’s mining sector attracted more than $2.6 billion in foreign direct investment over a 30-month period.
NUMW said it aligned with the administration’s vision of partnerships based on mutual benefit, sovereign equality and respect for national priorities.
The union concluded by reiterating its support for policies aimed at ensuring that Africa’s mineral wealth contributes more directly to industrial development, employment and improved living standards for African communities.
