Special to USAfrica magazine (Houston) and USAfricaonline.com, the first African-owned, US-based newspaper published on the Internet.
May 2, 2026: USAfrica: The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) habve called on the embattled government of President Bola Tinubu to urgently tackle the rampant insecurity and poverty in Nigeria. “This year’s theme speaks directly to the harsh realities confronting workers. There exists a direct and undeniable relationship between insecurity, poverty, and the collapse of decent work outcomes.”
NLC President Joe Ajaero and TUC President Festus Osifo, said in a joint statement: “We must confront an uncomfortable truth. Our nation is at war, even if we have refused to call it by its name. A nation cannot function, and an economy cannot grow, when its people live under constant threat.”
The labour leaders cited the poor standards of living and inflationary escalation of costs, arguing that: “The economy must serve the people, or it has failed. By that measure, we must speak plainly; the state of our economy remains deeply troubling. It is not getting better. It is getting worse.”
They characterized the poverty rate in Nigeria at about 65 per cent. They criticised the Tinubu economy as “Perhaps,… working for the ultra-few 1% and not the 99% majority.”
Nigeria’s “hydra-headed challenges”, jihadists, bandits attack parts of Nigeria, Tinubu declares emergency on insecurity and poverty
As Nigerians protest, cry out and demand the government’s intervention and protection from the increasing economic hardship, President Bola Tinubu used the internationally celebrated May Day (as Workers Day) to declare insecurity and poverty as national emergencies.
The President stated in his goodwill message to the Workers’ Day celebration at the Eagle Square in Abuja, that “There cannot be decent work where workers fear for their lives or where wages cannot feed a family.”
He mentioned his major infrastructure projects include the controversial and highly-priced Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline.
His speech raised another question of how the Tinubu government arrived at its claim that it has collectively generated over 600,000 jobs across the country.
On workers’ welfare and negotiations, Tinubu said “Strike should be the last resort, not the first…. To you, our dear workers, your welfare remains a priority. We are committed to improving working conditions, promoting fair wages, and ensuring that every Nigerian worker enjoys dignity, safety and equal opportunity in the workplace.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Labour and Employment Minister, Muhammad Dingyadi has noted that the Federal Government remains committed to wage reforms and job creation. “The recently implemented minimum wage is not the end of our journey, but a step toward ensuring that every worker earns a living wage that reflects dignity and fairness.”
