Amid the economic hardship and high cost of living in the country, Nigerian workers joined their counterparts across the world to commemorate International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day.

The celebration of the workers’ day is expected to showcase the liberation of the workers across the world and to appreciate workers’ rights by acknowledging the significant role of the workforce in society.

The commemoration of the day also provides a collective platform for the trade unions and labour unions to campaign for better working conditions, fair wages, and other labor-related issues, as these demands are a reflection of the living conditions of the citizens of the country.

Nigerian workers, on the other hand, have been in a web of similar narratives in the past couple of years as they grapple with the ripple effects of economic inflation, which, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, has risen to 23.18% while food inflation stands tall at 40.01%.

Despite the increment of the national minimum wage to ₦70,000 by President Bola Tinubu, the adverse effect of the floating of the naira and the removal of the fuel subsidy on the prices of basic and necessary commodities seems unresolvable by the wage increment, as the wages have not cushioned the hardship in the country as expected.

Worse still, research from Budgit, an independent civil society organisation, revealed that despite the announcement of the implementation of the minimum wage, only 17 states have implemented the new minimum wage as of April 2025, while the remaining 19 are still quiet on the matter. More so, many private organisations have yet to start implementing the minimum wage due to a constant increase in production costs.

Speaking to journalists prior to Workers Day, NLC President Joe Ajaero expressed the concerns of the country’s workers, citing economic policies, rising insecurity, and political interference in labour affairs. He also noted that the minimum wage can no longer be sufficient for an average Nigerian worker.

“It is clear that the policies of the government, particularly the ill-timed and unstructured removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira, have pushed Nigerian workers and their families to the brink,” he lamented.

Amidst these uncertainties, Nigerian workers trooped out in thousands from the Eagles Square in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, to the capitals of the states of the federation for the usual rallies and parades and to hear the promises from the government and their appraisals. However, the workers in Rivers State dedicated their day to demanding the restoration of a democratic government in the state.

Addressing the workers at Eagle Square, President Bola Tinubu admitted to the economic hardship in the country, stating that his administration would remain committed to strengthening job security and ensuring the fair treatment of Nigerian workers.

Represented by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Alhaji Muhammed Maigari Dingyadi, President Tinubu described the workers as the “backbone of our society” and emphasised that his administration would “continue to strengthen labour protections, improve job security, and ensure fair treatment for all workers in line with international best practices.”

He told the workers that this administration is ready to collaborate with labour unions, the organised and informal private sector, and civil society organisations to create policies and programs that safeguard workers’ rights and livelihoods across all sectors of the economy.

Recognising the economic hardships that many Nigerians face, Tinubu admitted the “real and critical” nature of rising living costs, unemployment, and food insecurity while promising increased efforts in job creation, social protection, and poverty alleviation.

“I am well aware of the peculiarities of this economic hardship for Nigerians. These challenges… demand definite solutions, which I, as your president, am poised to address.”

In the same light, the President of the Senate, Goodwill Akpabio, also acknowledged the roles of the workers in the country as he assured them of the full support from the National Assembly to always ensure that workers are not victimised.

Akpabio, who gave this assurance in a statement through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Eseme Eyiboh, further commended the workers for their resilience in the face of challenges and driving the country’s economy forward as they remain the backbone of Nigeria’s economy.

“I commend your resilience in the face of challenges and recognise your role in driving our economy forward. Despite obvious challenges, you remain the backbone of our economy. I salute your unwavering commitment to excellence and productivity. Your contributions are vital to our nation’s progress.”

“Under our eyes, no Nigerian worker will be victimised on account of expressing himself or herself, either in demanding their rights or seeking legal redress.

“I must say that Nigerian workers are our pride, and we will not shirk our responsibility working together with the executive to address workers’ concerns and create opportunities for growth and prosperity. Together, we shall build a brighter future for Nigerian workers and our wonderful nation,” Akpabio assured.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also commended the workers and urged them to remain productive, as his government would continue to make workers’ welfare the utmost priority.

 “As we join the rest of the world today to celebrate International Workers’ Day, I implore all workers, especially those in Lagos State, to remain productive and committed to duty. We must all join hands together to take Lagos to greater heights in line with our administration’s Greater Lagos agenda.

”As a government, we will continue to make the welfare of workers our priority and ensure that we play our role in creating a good working environment for workers in the state”. Governor Sanwo-Olu congratulated all our workers on the 2022 International Workers’ Day.

In their appraisal of the workers in the celebration, the former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar, and his counterpart in the Labour Party, Peter Obi, also commended the Nigerian workers for their commitment to drive the country’s economy forward.

Atiku, in his X post, called on the government and employers to provide safeguards to protect the dignity, benefits, and entitlements that justly belong to the workers,” as he described them as the soul of the country.

Peter Obi also described Nigerian workers as people who are dedicated to driving the country’s progress and development. He said, “A day like this offers us the opportunity to appreciate every Nigerian worker at different levels of government, across different agencies, private industries, and business sectors—your legitimate labour forms the energy that propels our nation.”

Likewise, governors nationwide celebrated with workers in their states, pledging to support their growth and welfare.

No Celebration in Rivers As Workers Protest Emergency Rule
However, the Nigeria Labour Congress in Rivers State decided to boycott the regular May Day celebration in the state as they protested against the declaration of a state of emergency by President Tinubu on March 18th, 2025, which resulted in the removal of the democratically elected government officials, including the state governor, Sim Fubara, and his deputy.

As a replacement, President Tinubu nominated Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state. The action has attracted criticisms among Nigerians, who described his actions as a danger to democracy.

Expressing their dissatisfaction with the development, the workers, instead of gathering at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elemahia, in Port Harcourt, followed the directives of their leaders and gathered at the NLC secretariat with placards with inscriptions like ‘Reinstate Rivers State Government’, ‘We want Governor Fubara back’, ‘We say no to military leadership in Rivers State’, ‘8–12 hours a day demands a pension’, Better Driving Conditions, and ‘Drivers are Bleeding’, among others.