As Nigeria marked this year’s Workers’ Day on Wednesday, the nation’s two major labour unions — the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) — delivered a stern rebuke of President Bola Tinubu’s economic direction, warning that the country’s workforce is enduring unprecedented hardship.
In separate addresses during May Day celebrations across the country, union leaders described the current economic situation as the most punishing in Nigeria’s democratic era, calling for a swift review of the national minimum wage, which is pegged at ₦70,000.
Julius Laye, chairman of the TUC in Bayelsa State, laid much of the blame at the federal government's doorstep, pointing to the removal of fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023, as the flashpoint that triggered an unrelenting wave of economic pain.
“Multiple tax regimes, soaring utility tariffs, and hyperinflation have left workers stranded and struggling to survive,” Laye stated.
He noted that the cost of essential services such as healthcare has spiraled beyond the reach of the average worker. “The current wage can’t even cover basic medical care,” he lamented. “Meanwhile, public officials have access to overseas treatment, but Nigerian workers are left to suffer.”
The unions argued that economic reforms under Tinubu’s administration have disproportionately affected workers, eroding their purchasing power and deepening poverty among the employed.
“We are far worse off today than at any other time in our history,” Laye added, echoing a sentiment shared by labour leaders nationwide.
Both the NLC and TUC are now pushing for a new wage framework that reflects present economic realities, warning that anything less than a living wage would further demoralize the workforce and endanger national productivity.
As the government continues to promote its reform agenda, pressure is mounting for it to cushion the effects on ordinary Nigerians — especially those bearing the weight of inflation without matching income support.
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