As Nigerian workers joined their counterparts across the globe to mark Workers’ Day 2025, also known as May Day, the celebration was overshadowed by growing discontent over worsening economic hardship and persistent labour injustices.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the country’s leading workers’ union, used the occasion to voice its frustration with what it described as a series of anti-worker policies enacted since the current administration took office.
“It has been one anti-worker policy after another. From last May Day to today, it has been excruciating and painful,” the NLC stated in a message to commemorate the day.
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Speaking during the celebration, NLC President Joe Ajaero condemned the deepening inequality, stagnant wages, and increasing hardship suffered by workers, blaming it on exploitative systems upheld by the political elite and international financial institutions.
“We are living in a society deeply divided between the oppressors and the oppressed—the haves and the have-nots. Since the last May Day, this divide has only widened. Workers have been impoverished, dehumanized, and subjected to relentless hardship,” Ajaero said.
He criticized neoliberal economic policies and alleged that the ruling class has aligned itself against the masses, promoting wages that barely sustain survival while ignoring labour rights and social justice.
“Capitalism, in its insatiable hunger, devours jobs and strips dignity from work. The state, which should stand for justice, now enforces exploitative measures crafted by Bretton Woods institutions,” he added.
Despite the dire situation, Ajaero praised the resilience of the labour movement, calling it “the most vibrant on the African continent,” and reaffirmed the NLC’s commitment to fighting for workers’ rights.
The NLC also raised concerns about the incomplete implementation of the N70,000 National Minimum Wage, stating that several state governments and even the federal government have failed to fully comply.
“The struggle to enforce the minimum wage continues, and the battle for a comprehensive wage review is just beginning. Every worker must realize that liberation will not be handed over—it must be fought for,” Ajaero urged.
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He concluded by calling on Nigerian workers to unite and resist continued exploitation, urging them to demand not just symbolic victories but lasting reforms that guarantee fair compensation, dignity, and economic justice.
“Let us build a movement that does not merely negotiate for crumbs, but demands a fair share of the bread we bake.”
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As Nigeria observes Workers’ Day 2025, the growing discontent among the workforce serves as a stark reminder of the challenges ahead. The NLC’s call for unity and action highlights the urgent need for both government and employers to address workers’ concerns, ensuring that their contributions to the nation’s growth are recognized and properly rewarded. Moving forward, the fight for fair wages, labour rights, and economic justice remains a key priority for the nation’s workforce, with Nigerian workers increasingly determined to secure their future.
