May Day: Restore dignity of Nigerian workers

Friday, May 1, 2026, marked this year’s Workers’ Day. In Nigeria, however, the occasion passed quietly, stripped of its historical fanfare. Globally, May 1 is recognised as Labour Day—or International Workers’ Day—commemorating the struggles of workers, most notably the 1886 fight in Chicago for the eight-hour workday. This year, the International Labour Organisation dedicated the […]

Friday, May 1, 2026, marked this year’s Workers’ Day. In Nigeria, however, the occasion passed quietly, stripped of its historical fanfare. Globally, May 1 is recognised as Labour Day—or International Workers’ Day—commemorating the struggles of workers, most notably the 1886 fight in Chicago for the eight-hour workday. This year, the International Labour Organisation dedicated the celebration to the psychosocial wellbeing of workers worldwide, underscoring the urgent need to protect not only their economic interests but also their mental and emotional health.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu delegated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to represent him at the May Day rally at Eagles Square. But the president’s speech, more of self-praise, was about the implementation of the grossly inadequate new national minimum wage of N70, 000; the payment of pension arrears; the reintroduction of gratuity payments as from January 2026; the enrolment of over 800,000 informal sector workers in the micro pension scheme;  N200 billion support fund for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises; efforts to tackle insecurity across the country; and other interventions in the agricultural sector. It failed to address the traumatic work condition of the country’s labour force in environment where economic measures have continued to weaken and erode the purchasing power of the wages and salaries earned by Nigerian workers.

Tinubu is not unaware of the predicament of Nigerian workers. On May 1, 2023, (then president-elect), he promised Nigerian workers a living wage, describing the ₦30,000 minimum wage as “not enough.” He assured that workers would “have more than a minimum wage, you will have a living wage to have a decent life and provide for your families.” A living wage is defined as the income a worker needs to afford a decent standard of living for themselves and their family. Unlike a minimum wage, which is often set by law as the lowest amount an employer can pay, a living wage is based on the actual cost of essentials such as food, housing, healthcare, education, transportation, and other basic needs. Now, in the last year of his four-year term, Tinubu has failed to give workers a living wage; he failed to mention the issue in his address to workers on May 1, 2026.

Over the years, and especially since the Tinubu government set out to implement its economic reforms, the government has turned a blind eye to the harsh predicaments faced by Nigerian workers. Unfortunately, the besetting problems affect workers’ productivity, and as a corollary, they also affect the economic growth of the country. In developed and developing countries, workers are recognised as the backbone of economic growth and development, serving as the driving force behind productivity, innovation, and nation-building. Therefore, the welfare of workers is never relegated to the background.

In Nigeria, the impact of inflation has rendered the ₦70,000 minimum wage inadequate, as workers earning less than ₦500,000 monthly struggle to meet even their essential needs. Social services remain dysfunctional, while public transportation is dominated by private operators who impose exorbitant fares. Government promises to expand mass transit with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses have yet to materialise. Unable to afford transport costs, many workers have been permitted by both public and private institutions to sleep at their workplaces or limit attendance to two or three days a week. This arrangement, however, is far from decent: sleeping in offices without proper facilities exposes workers to poor hygiene, stress, and health risks. It underscores the failure of wages to cover basic living expenses. Rather than solving the problem, such practices entrench poverty, erode dignity, and weaken Nigeria’s path to sustainable development, while families suffer from prolonged separation.

Apart from the high cost of transportation, the cost of accommodation has skyrocketed in parallel with inflation and the cost of building materials. More and more workers slide deeper and deeper into poverty and are unable to afford decent housing. Those who should be regarded as middle-class workers cannot afford decent accommodation in cities; they have moved into slums in cities. Over time, this undermines social cohesion and threatens national development. Perhaps, the only exception to this condition is a few privileged Nigerians who work in Government-Owned Enterprises (GoEs), where special salaries and allowances are paid to ‘elite’ workers.

To boost the dignity of workers and enhance productivity,  we call on the government to prioritise policies that guarantee decent work and fair compensation. First, wages should be adjusted to reflect the true cost of living, ensuring workers can afford housing, healthcare, and transportation. This requires moving beyond the minimum wage to a genuine living wage framework, which is possible if the government deliberately minimises corruption and waste of resources. Second, investment in infrastructure—particularly affordable housing and reliable public transport—will ease the financial burden on workers and improve their quality of life. Third, strengthening labour rights through consistent enforcement of workplace standards will protect workers from exploitation and foster trust in institutions. The government must prioritize collaboration with trade unions and private employers in policy design to ensure that reforms are inclusive and sustainable. It is possible to restore dignity to workers if this government is determined to do so. Nigeria’s full economic potential cannot be realised if workers are treated as third-class.