•‘ We want living wage, 100% salary adjustment from July’
•‘ Without justice for workers, no justice for the nation’
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has identified insecurity and poverty as major threats to employment, productivity, and national stability in Nigeria.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, at the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration held at Eagle Square on Friday, the President acknowledged that insecurity and poverty remain significant challenges but assured Nigerians that his administration is addressing them with urgency.
The event also witnessed strong remarks from organised labour, which declared that rising insecurity and worsening poverty have severely undermined decent work opportunities in the country. Labour leaders further warned that weakening democratic institutions now pose a serious threat to national stability and sustainable development.
Meanwhile, other stakeholders who spoke during the celebration congratulated Nigerian workers on the occasion and urged them to continue contributing meaningfully to nation-building through dedication and professionalism in their various fields.
Labour leaders condemn insecurity, demand better pay for workers; say ‘We want living wage, 100% salary adjustment from July’
In a joint address at the 2026 May Day celebration held at Eagle Square, Abuja, Presidents of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, said that Nigeria was trapped in a “vicious cycle” where insecurity fuels poverty and poverty, in turn, worsens insecurity.
The labour leaders said that the situation had pushed millions of Nigerians into hardship, with about 10,000 people falling into poverty daily, while the national poverty rate has surged to about 65 per cent. “This is not a situation that can be ad- dressed with empty rhetoric; it demands urgent, decisive, and sustained action.
“The quality of life for Nigerian workers has deteriorated to its lowest ebb, and for millions, daily existence has become a relentless struggle for survival,” they added.. Speaking on the theme, “Insecurity, Poverty Bane of Decent Work,” the labour leaders stressed that no meaningful economic progress could occur without security.
“There exists a direct and undeniable relationship between insecurity, poverty, and the collapse of decent work outcomes: as insecurity and poverty rise, the possibility of decent work diminishes and as they fall, the prospects for dignity in labour are restored.
“What we are witnessing today is a vicious, self-reinforcing cycle that is eroding livelihoods, weakening institutions, and pushing millions deeper into hardship.” They warned that the four pillars of decent work; employment, rights at work, social protection, and social dialogue, could not survive in an environment “defined by fear and deprivation.”
Directly addressing President Bola Tinubu, labour expressed concern over continued killings and attacks across states including Borno, Katsina, Niger, Plateau, Benue, and Nasarawa, despite previous assurances by the President. “There can be no meaningful progress under such conditions, because security is the foundation upon which every other sector depends,” the leaders said.
They criticised the government’s economic priorities, warning that the push for foreign investment without addressing insecurity was fundamentally flawed. “It is deeply concerning that, in the face of such widespread insecurity, attention is often directed outward in pursuit of foreign investment, when the more urgent task lies within.
“Capital is sensitive; it does not thrive in environments of instability. If we secure the nation decisively, investment will follow naturally. The unions also took a swipe at the National Assembly and judiciary, warning that democratic institutions were losing credibility. “We are deeply concerned by developments that suggest a decline in institutional independence and accountability.
When a $6.9bn loan can be approved in less than three hours, it raises serious questions about due diligence, oversight, and whose interests are truly being served.” They further criticised lawmakers for what they described as political subservience.
“The chorus of ‘on your mandate we stand’ has become an anthem, and turning the hallowed chambers of the National Assembly into a theatre of endorsement while citizens are dying in droves makes a mockery of our democracy. This is not how institutions of accountability are meant to function,” they added.
On the judiciary, labour warned of a dangerous loss of public trust as they raised alarm over conflicting judicial rulings, warning that declining public confidence in the judiciary could push citizens toward self-help. “We are worried that a frightening perception is taking hold; that the rule of might has replaced the rule of law.
When citizens lose confidence in the judiciary, they begin to resort to self-help, and that is a path that leads to chaos and national instability,” they said. Painting a grim picture of living conditions, labour said millions of Nigerians now struggle with basic needs, as housing, transportation, and food costs soar.
They noted that internally displaced persons camps were swelling, with diseases such as kwashiorkor and marasmus re-emerging. “Millions struggle daily to access food, shelter, and transportation. Housing has become unaffordable, movement is both dangerous and expensive, and internally displaced persons’ camps continue to swell as insecurity drives people from their homes into uncertainty and despair.
“In these conditions, we are witnessing the re-emergence of diseases such as kwashiorkor and marasmus conditions that speak to a nation under severe strain and a system failing its most vulnerable citizens.” Speaking further, Labour announced that negotiations for a new national minimum wage would commence in July 2026, ahead of the expiration of the current wage early next year, as it made a fresh demand for immediate relief for workers.
“As part of this resolve, we demand that from July of this year, every worker be paid 100 per cent of his basic salary to cushion the effects of the renewed crisis of survival facing Nigerian workers. This is not a luxury; it is a necessity for survival in the current economic climate.”
They accused some state governments and private employers of refusing to implement the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act, despite improved revenues “In several states, governments have refused to fully implement the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act despite improved revenues, forcing workers to mark this May Day not in celebration but in protest.
This is unacceptable and must be addressed,” they added. With the 2027 general elections approaching, labour called for a “new deal for Nigerian workers” and urged citizens to remain vigilant. “Nigeria is at a crossroads. The challenges before us are daunting, but they also present an opportunity for renewal.
The change we seek will not come from elsewhere, it must come from us, through our collective will and action to rebuild a nation that works for al.” They emphasised unity as critical to that process saying, “Now more than ever, Nigerian workers must stand together. Our unity is our greatest weapon, our solidarity our strongest shield.
Without justice for workers, there can be no justice for the nation and without the dignity of labour, the promise of our country will remain unfulfilled.”
Tinubu: Insecurity, poverty, threats to jobs, natn’l stability, urges workers to shun strikes
President Bola Tinubu said further at the Eagle Square that the twin crises of insecurity and poverty were the major threats to jobs, productivity and national stability. The President pointed to the launch of the Community Protection Guards Initiative, which he said has recruited 45,000 young Nigerians to secure communities while creating jobs.
The President also highlighted a raft of economic and social interventions under his Renewed Hope Agenda, including expanded cash transfers reaching 15 million vulnerable households and lifting an estimated 7.5 million Nigerians out of poverty.
The President added that infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline have generated over 600,000 jobs. On workers’ welfare, Tinubu said that the government has implemented a new national minimum wage, cleared pension arrears, and reintroduced gratuity payments from January 2026.
He further noted that over 800,000 informal sector workers have been enrolled in the micro pension scheme, while small businesses continue to benefit from a N200 billion MSME support fund. He said: “There cannot be decent work where workers fear for their lives, where wages cannot feed a family, or where insecurity disrupts farms, factories, markets, and other economic activities.
These hydra-headed challenges, the government noted, have been treated as a national emergency due to their impact on productivity, livelihoods, and the confidence of both workers and employers.
“The administration also acknowledged that insecurity and poverty remain major obstacles to building a peaceful Nigeria where citizens can “sleep with their eyes closed,” and to achieving the “Decent Work Agenda” as envisioned by the International Labour Organization. Despite the challenges, the government assured that it was not relenting in its efforts.
It said it was confronting the issues through deliberate, coordinated, and sustained actions, backed by targeted policies and the resilience of security personnel; some of whom have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.
Addressing labour unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, the President called for sustained dialogue and restraint in industrial disputes.
“Strike should be the last resort, not the first,” he said, urging collaboration to achieve lasting reforms. Tinubu also commended security forces for their role in protecting economic activities, linking improved safety directly to job creation and national growth.
ADC, Mark call for improved Workers’ welfare
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its National Chairman have sent messages of solidarity to Nigerian workers, calling for improvement of their welfare by government.
In separate messages to workers on this year’s May Day, the duo however criticised President Bola administration for failing to protect Nigerian workers from worsening economic conditions, rising insecurity, and limited job opportunities. ADC in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the workers’ wages are not commensurate with their sacrifices to the nation.
This it attributed to policy failures, arguing that insecurity has disrupted farming and business activity, while job creation has not kept pace with the growing workforce. “Across Nigeria today, workers are doing more and earning less. Rising costs of food, transport, housing, and energy have eroded the value of Nigerian workers daily and monthly wages.
“For many, hard work no longer guarantees stability, dignity, or upward mobility. This is not sustainable. And it is not acceptable,” the party stated. ADC said the hardship is not accidental but consequence of policy choices and governance failures by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party stated that it believes that the dignity of labour must be matched by the dignity of reward, and pledged commitment to drive job creation by unlocking key sectors of the economy, especially agriculture, manufacturing, and services. Mark in a statement by his Technical Adviser, Strategic Communications Kola Ologboniya, expressed concern over the plight of Nigerian workers.
Mark noted countless Nigeria workers who labour daily without fair wages, job security, or confidence in a brighter tomorrow. “The African Democratic Congress recognizes that a nation that cannot protect the dignity of its workforce cannot truly claim to be on the path of progress,” he stated.
The former President of the Senate lamented the harsh economic realities confronting workers, noting that inflation has eroded salaries. He assured Nigerian workers that the ADC is committed to rebuilding confidence in the nation’s workforce and restoring hope to millions.
“We will fight for pension reforms that restore dignity in retirement, for policies that create jobs not just statistical propaganda and for an economy where productivity is rewarded and corruption is punished,” he said.
Workers are suffering; subsidise transport, health, Esele
A former President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Mr. Peter Esele said that workers are really suffering. Esele noted that inflation is so high that their disposable income cannot match their bills. In an interview with Saturday Telegraph yesterday, he stated that this is not the time to be a worker giving the sufferings that workers are subjected to.
He said: “Inflation is on the high side. This is not the time to be a worker, because right now it’s not only just in Nigeria, but all over the world workers are suffering in the sense that the standard of living is going down.
And with this, inflation continues to rise, and there are no wage increases. So what you have is that workers are suffering from stunted groups. Their pocket is, or their purchasing power is reduced daily. So that’s the challenge.
Aremu urges parties to mainstream labour issues in manifestoes
Prominent unionist and Director-General of the Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies, Comrade Issa Aremu, urged political parties and gladiators jostling for power to make workers’ welfare an important issue in their respective manifestoes ahead of the forthcoming general election.
This is coming just as Aremu lauded the numerous strides of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in enhancing workers’ welfare since coming to power in 2023.
Speaking in an interview with Saturday Telegraph, Aremu maintained that though things might not turn out the way workers would have wanted, May Day is not an event, it’s a struggle, saying that struggle is a process, it never ends, and that the struggle continues.”
He stated that next year’s election should be determined by labour issues tasking politicians to come out clear on what their plans are with regards to economy enhancing policies such as electricity generation that would stimulate the employment for the mass unemployed people.
Okpebholo showers praises on Edo workers as TUC decries insecurity, poverty
The Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo expressed appreciation to workers across the state for their support and constructive engagement with his administration, describing the relationship between organised labour and the state government as a model of productive partnership rooted in mutual respect.
Speaking Benin City, Governor Okpebholo paid tribute to the working men and women whose daily contributions, he said, continue to drive the development of Edo State. He maintained that his administration is committed to workers’ welfare and good governance, adding that his administration has turned Edo State into a huge construction site.
Represented by the deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, Okpebholo said: “I am very delighted to join the hardworking men and women of Edo State on this special occasion of Workers’ Day 2026.
“Today, we celebrate the men and women whose daily efforts keep our state moving forward. From teachers to health workers, civil servants, artisans, traders, and security personnel, you are the backbone of Edo’s progress.”
Sanwo-Olu approves N50,000 wage award for Lagos workers
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved a N50,000 wage award for public sector workers in Lagos State. The governor announced the award at Mobolaji Johnson Arena. Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, said that the award would apply for the month of May as part of efforts to cushion the impact of rising cost of living.
“For the month of May, Lagos State Government has approved an additional N50,000 for all workers. “We are aware of prevailing economic challenges, including increasing fuel prices and global pressure. This decision is to support our workforce during this period,” he said.
The governor commended workers for their contributions to the state’s development, describing them as critical to Lagos’ growth. “Why do workers rise before dawn daily, striving to build and sustain this state? That sense of duty is the reason Lagos continues to stand strong,” he said.
Akpabio hails Nigerian workers’ resilience, patriotism
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio congratulated the Nigerian workers and commended them for their resilience, hard work, and patriotism despite the challenges they face in the course of their duties. Akpabio’s commendation was contained in a May Day congratulatory message personally signed by him.
He said, “On this auspicious occasion of Workers’ Day 2026, I, Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the 10th Senate and chairman of the National Assembly, on behalf of the National Assembly, join millions of Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to commend and congratulate the resilient, industrious, and patriotic Nigerian workers whose sweat and sacrifice continue to sustain the heartbeat of our nation.
“Today, we celebrate you, the teachers who mold our future, the farmers who feed our nation, the doctors and nurses who heal our land, the artisans, traders, civil servants, security personnel, and private sector employees whose daily toil builds Nigeria. You are the true heroes of our democracy and the engine of our economy.
Kalu salutes Nigerian workers, pledges legislative support
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu paid glowing tribute to Nigerian workers, lauding their dedication, hard work, and resilience in driving the country’s growth. In a goodwill message, Kalu described Nigerian workers as the backbone of national progress, noting that their daily sacrifices have continued to evolve a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.
He said: “Today, we recognise the men and women who make up the Nigerian workforce. We salute your dedication, hard work, and commitment to the advancement of our nation. “To every citizen contributing daily to the growth of our economy, your resilience remains the backbone of our progress.
Your efforts do not go unnoticed, and your sacrifices continue to shape a stronger, more prosperous Nigeria.” Kalu also reaffirmed the commitment of the House of Representatives to advancing legislative initiatives that protect the welfare, safety, and economic security of workers across the country.
Obi calls for empowerment of workers
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party Mr. Peter Obi, called for the empowerment of Nigerian workers, which he said, will lead to national prosperity. Obi in a message to the workers, said that the nation bears the consequences when workers suffer.
According to him, no nation can develop beyond the strength and wellbeing of its workforce, as productivity and progress are rooted in the quality and commitment of human capital.
He expressed concern over what he described as the declining value of labour in Nigeria, stating that the current minimum wage no longer guarantees even a modest standard of living.
