May Day 2025: CAPPA advocates Living Wage implementation for workers

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), an NGO, has implored the federal a d state governments in Nigeria to implement a living wage as a necessary step to prioritizing workers welfare.

CAPPAmade this call in a statement signed by its Media and Communications Officer, Robert Egbe and made available to newsmen in Makurdi on Thursday.

The organization which noted that workers are the backbone of the Nigerian economy, lamented that they have continued to suffer a variety of challenges, including exploitation, unsafe work conditions, inadequate wages, all within a shrinking civic space and bleak economic environment.

Referencing data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and other statistical bodies, CAPPA noted that between 2024 and 2025 workers have been at the receiving end of poor government policies which have worsened inflation, eroded real incomes and made basic goods and services increasingly unaffordable.

“Worse yet, an estimated 13 million more Nigerians are projected to, by the end of 2025, join the existing 129 million others living below the poverty line due to ongoing inflation, according to the World Bank.

“Ironically, it is the neo-liberal and pro-market policies imposed by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Nigeria’s government through usurious loans and grants that are the main reasons behind the socio-economic crisis facing Nigeria today,” the CAPPA statement said.

While acknowledging the Nigerian government’s approval of a N70,000 minimum wage last year, the organisation stressed that the amount still falls short of what is needed to improve workers purchasing power amid worsening social conditions and the cost-of-living crisis.

Meanwhile, the statement also expressed shock that despite Nigeria’s severe unemployment and underemployment challenges, a staggering 90 per cent of expatriates are working in roles meant for Nigerians and without a work permit, according to Interior Minister, Olubunmi Ojo.

The nongovernmental organisation lamented that this situation not only continues to deprive qualified, unemployed Nigerians of the few good jobs, but also makes Nigeria a dumping ground for unqualified foreign labour.

CAPPA urged the government to seal the loopholes exploited by illegal expatriates to steal jobs reserved for Nigerians saying “This day serves as a reminder of Nigerian workers’ struggle for dignity, safety, and equity in and out of the workplace.

“Across many sectors, workers are not only demanding an adequate pay, they are also asking for the recognition of their rights to organize, the ability to voice their concerns, and safe working environments free from harassment and discrimination. ‘

“It is imperative that the government listens and act by implementing a living wage and people-centric policies that can offer workers a chance to survive,” the statement noted

CAPPA urged the government and employers of labour to take decisive actions to ensure that all workers receive fair compensation for their contributions, alongside benefits that support their well-being and development.

The organization further canvassed special attention for marginalized groups, including women, youth, and informal sector workers, who often face additional barriers in the workforce.

“We urge labour unions to utilize this Workers’ Day celebration to advocate for improved working conditions and to support legislation that can alleviate the burdens of Nigerian workers,” CAPPA added.