May Day ’26: Beyond The Symbolic Rituals

By Patrick Wemambu

Every May 1st, Nigeria’s employed labour force join their counterparts in other parts of the world to observe the International Workers’ Day.

To commemorate the day at the Eagle Square in Abuja, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu aligned his message to thousands of the celebrants with the global May Day theme on the Decent Work Agenda championed by the International Labour Organization.

Speaking through his Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the President said the government has implemented a new national minimum wage, cleared pension arrears, and reintroduced gratuity payments from January 2026.

He, however, acknowledged that insecurity and poverty remain major obstacles to building a peaceful Nigeria where citizens can sleep with their eyes closed. “There cannot be decent work where workers fear for their lives, where wages cannot feed a family, or where insecurity disrupts farms, factories, markets, and other economic activities,” he regretted.

Yet despite the challenges, the government assured it is not relenting in its efforts by confronting the issues through deliberate and sustained actions. This is backed by targeted policies and the resilience of security personnel. Unfortunately, some of them have had to pay the ultimate price in the line of duty.

The President concluded by urging restraint in industrial disputes, emphasising dialogue as the preferred mechanism for resolving grievances.

Throwing their parliamentary weights behind federal government assurance of continuing to prioritize welfare and rights of Nigerian workers – Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbass – congratulated the NLC and TUC on the occasion for their service and patriotism to the growth of the nation.

Their Excellencies, in separate releases by their Media Aides, noted the challenges workers encounter from rising costs of living to work place demands. They, nonetheless, assured that the 10th National Assembly remains unwavering in its commitment to legislating for a living wage, pension reforms and policies to protect the dignity of labour.

In an interesting but expected twist at the May Day celebration, both leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Presidents Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, described the current economic situation in Nigeria as deeply unequal and unsustainable. They pointed out that rising poverty and unemployment are pushing millions of Nigerians into extreme deprivation.

Pooh-poohing the system that currently benefits only a small elite of the top 1% while leaving the 99% behind – Labour argued that the country’s reported growth figures do not reflect the reality on the ground. According to them, “We are told the economy is growing, yet poverty continues to rise. These are paper gains that do not translate into better living conditions for workers.”

On wages and labour conditions, the NLC and TUC announced that negotiations for a new national minimum wage will begin in July 2026, while demanding immediate relief measures to cushion the effects of inflation and economic pressure.

Earlier in a press statement issued to mark the day, NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, had shared felicitations with FCT Journalists and Workers. She observed that the theme for this year’s occasion – Insecurity and Poverty: Bane of Decent Work – was both timely and deeply reflective of the realities confronting workers across the nation.

“I call on government at all levels to intensify efforts towards improving national security and implementing policies that directly alleviate poverty…Media organisations and employers within the FCT must also play their part by prioritising the welfare of journalists,” Ike admonished.

Drawn-out speeches and addresses, choreographed marches in Union attires, anthemic solidarity hymns. Perhaps these could best describe the grandeur of the annual Workers’ Day celebration. Yet beyond the enthralling spectacle lies a grim reality, often lost to many ostensibly on account of their astonishing lack of sensitivity.

How then can this symbolic yearly observance align with the socio-economic harsh realities of everyday living? What measures are capable of engendering a complete turnaround of events? For starters, the Nigerian worker requires a living wage towards arresting the poverty and hunger prevailing within the economic space. And contributing to enhancing productivity. This likewise has become compelling owing to galloping inflation and the resultant high cost of living.

The N70,000 national minimum wage which most states have yet to implement can hardly meet the barest of necessities. Comrade Funmi Sessi, Lagos NLC Chairman, has appealed to her governor for a review of the state’s minimum wage from N85,000 to N225,000. The national labour body must take a que from that.

Next, about 90% of Nigerian labour force operate within the informal sector. They would need flexible social safety nets like Access to Affordable Healthcare, Micro-Insurance, Old Age Pension, Child Care Services, Legal Protection and Digital Platforms.

Moreover, owing to high cost of rents in most parts of the country – particularly in the urban areas – government would do well to invest in construction of mass housing schemes. This may involve PPP arrangements.

Similarly, it is possible to tackle rising food prices with initiatives like Integrated development of horticulture, Price Stabilization, National Agricultural Growth Schemes, Agro-Pocket Programmes and Introduction of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered generators for irrigation farming.

In addition, an upward review of retirement benefits is sine qua non to ensuring a better life for retirees most of who earn paltry sums looking malnourished after diligently and honestly serving their fatherland. Also, deductions of monthly pensions without remittance to the appropriate managers of the funds for concerned staffers must be criminalized.

Concluding, while Labour leaders must desist from romanticizing government officials, the workers have responsibilities of upholding professionalism in service. This is even as they are to strive for self-improvement and shunning corruptive tendencies.