As workers across the globe marked International Workers’ Day (May Day), Nigerian workers did so under a cloud of hardship and growing discontent. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) lamented that the economic and social conditions of workers in the country have continued to deteriorate over the past year.
According to the NLC, the current administration has introduced a series of policies that have made life increasingly difficult for workers. “It has been one anti-worker policy after another. From last May Day to today, it has been excruciating and painful,” the union said in a statement.
NLC President Joe Ajaero described the situation as dire, saying Nigerian workers are being “impoverished and dehumanised.” He criticised the capitalist structure of the economy, which he said has entrenched inequality and favoured the elite at the expense of the working class.
Ajaero noted that many of the challenges workers face stem from neoliberal economic reforms, which have led to job losses, suppressed wages, and shrinking labour rights. He also accused the ruling elite of closing ranks against the masses, prioritising policies that serve capital over the welfare of citizens.
Despite these challenges, Ajaero commended the unity and resilience of the Nigerian labour movement, describing it as the strongest on the African continent. He highlighted the ongoing fight to ensure the N70,000 National Minimum Wage is fully implemented, noting that several state governments and even federal institutions are in breach of the law.
He also hinted at a broader campaign to review the minimum wage in response to rising inflation and economic hardship. “We must push for a wage beyond the minimum to reflect the real cost of living,” he said.
The NLC called on all workers to remain mobilised, stating that genuine change would not come through promises but through collective action. “The time for hesitation is over. We must act not just for ourselves, but for future generations. The ruling class fears only one thing—our unity,” Ajaero concluded.
