Every year on May 1, the world pauses to honour the backbone of society, its workers. Known globally as International Labour Day, this occasion dates back to the Haymarket affair in 1886, when American workers in Chicago rallied for an eight-hour workday. The peaceful protest turned deadly, but it sparked a global movement that continues to shape labour rights today.
This year’s theme, “Social Justice and Decent Work,” echoes deeply in Nigeria, a country where the average worker continues to grapple with systemic inequality, job insecurity, and deteriorating living standards.
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), social justice means equal economic opportunity for all, while decent work refers to productive employment that guarantees fair wages, job security, and opportunities for personal development. Yet in Nigeria, these ideals remain far from reality.
Despite promises of reform and increased revenue following the fuel subsidy removal, Nigerian workers are still left behind. Wage disparities are stark, with some states failing to implement the modest new minimum wage. The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has decried the situation, revealing that several states merely added N5,000 to the outdated N30,000 wage structure, an insult to struggling families in an inflation-ravaged economy.
Data from Dataphyte reveals that Nigeria scored 35.1% on the global Gini coefficient, reflecting a dangerously high level of income inequality. While official unemployment figures were “rebased” to a modest 4.3% in 2024 under ILO standards, they mask the widespread underemployment and casualisation rampant across the country. Most workers, particularly the youth, are stuck in precarious jobs without contracts, pensions, or health benefits.
The National Bureau of Statistics noted that over 86% of jobs in Nigeria are informal, offering little to no social protection.
Even as the government touts economic recovery, the average Nigerian worker sees no improvement in their daily reality. Prices are rising, the naira continues its volatile dance against the dollar, and job opportunities remain elusive.
Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on Nigerian labour unions to continue their crusade for good governance. He described labour movements as “the final bastion of hope” for ordinary Nigerians and urged them to persist in demanding accountability, transparency, and equity from the country’s leaders.
Atiku’s appeal brings to bear the urgency of the moment. With many states sitting on increased federal allocations post-subsidy, the lack of significant investment in job creation, especially in agriculture and manufacturing, speaks volumes about misplaced priorities.
As Nigeria joins the world in marking Labour Day, the celebration feels hollow for millions who face economic hardship and systemic neglect. What workers need is not rhetoric but action, concrete policies that protect their rights, ensure fair pay, and promote decent, sustainable jobs.
Until then, May 1 will remain more of a protest than a celebration.
