Labour leaders have raised fresh concerns over rising insecurity, poverty and the shrinking space for decent work in Nigeria.
They warned that worsening economic conditions were undermining workers’ welfare and national productivity.
The concerns were expressed at the pre-May Day lecture convened by organised labour in Abuja, ahead of the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration.
A copy of the transcript was made available to our correspondent on Thursday night.
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, said insecurity and poverty had become major obstacles to decent work, stressing that millions of Nigerians were trapped below the poverty line while quality jobs continued to disappear.
Ajaero noted that solving insecurity and poverty would significantly improve living conditions and economic activities across the country, especially in agriculture and small businesses.
According to him, “If we remove insecurity today, you see that there will be food everywhere. People will go back to their farms. You don’t even need the government to bring any cover. People will be free to move from one place to another to sell.”
The NLC president lamented that nearly 90 per cent of jobs in Nigeria were now in the informal sector, where workers lacked pensions, job security and decent conditions of service.
He, however, commended the Federal Government for reintroducing gratuity payments, saying workers deserved dignity after retirement.
Ajaero said, “If there is poverty, if there is insecurity, in most cases you don’t even have a job, let alone having a decent job.
“The issue of decent jobs is not about getting employment from the government. It’s all about what you take home.”
The President of the Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo, called for stronger solidarity among workers and stakeholders to combat poverty and insecurity.
He said decent work remained non-negotiable for Nigerian workers and urged greater cooperation towards improving working conditions nationwide.
He said, “While calling for greater solidarity and cooperation towards the eradication of poverty and insecurity in our workplaces, in particular, and Nigeria in general, decent work is a must for Nigerian workers and is not negotiable.”
Delivering the keynote lecture, a scholar of international relations and strategic studies, Prof Kunle Olawunmi, described poverty and insecurity as direct threats to labour productivity, governance and national stability.
Olawunmi said Nigeria could not build a productive economy on “frightened communities, hungry households, underpaid workers and displaced citizens.”
Edo NLC divided
The Edo State chapter of the NLC is divided over the Workers’ Day celebration for this year.
While the chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Edo NLC, Prof Monday Igbafen, said they would not hold a parade or ceremony, the state government-backed Comrade Bernard Egwakide faction announced that the workers would roll out drums to celebrate the day.
In a statement on Thursday, Igbafen argued that while “other state councils of the NLC across this federation may, perhaps, find reason to roll out drums on May Day, labour environment in Edo today cannot and must not inspire celebration.”
Igbafen, whose committee is backed by the national body, disclosed that “genuine labour leaders and true workers have resolved to stay indoors to mourn, in silence, the present travails of labour in our state. Let the public be rescued from this deception.”
He added: “Let it be known that tomorrow’s assembly is powered neither by the legitimate leadership of the NLC in Edo State, nor by the national leadership of Congress. Those behind it are usurpers and hijackers of the Edo State Council of the NLC.
“The Edo NLC is in a quagmire. We are locked in a struggle against the combined forces of reactionaries, impostors, self-imposed leaders, political collaborators, and labour aristocrats.
“Every genuine effort to reposition this council has been met with repression. Yet we are not in despair. The struggle continues.
“Therefore, let the record reflect this truth: No pretentious May Day organised, engineered, and bankrolled by compradors can ever keep alive the glorious philosophy of May Day.
“To the public, and especially to every well-meaning worker in Edo State, we say: ‘Do not be deceived’. The gathering scheduled for tomorrow at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, is no true reflection of May Day. It is a hoax.”
Countering Igbafen, Egwakide dismissed his claim, describing him (Igbafen) as an “unknown entity to the Edo workers.”
He said: “The name you just mentioned is unknown to Edo workers and me in general. Edo NLC is one, so I am not aware of what you are talking about, nor do I know the name you just mentioned.
“Edo workers are going out tomorrow (today) to mark May Day at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and the governor is our chief host. So, I cannot join you to talk about someone unknown to Edo workers.”
Oyo lauds labour
The Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress has been described as one of the most forward-looking and mature labour Unions in recent history.
This is even as Oyo State ranks 4th in workers’ welfare,
The Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, said despite having over 130,000 workers in its payroll, the largest workforce in the South-West, South-East and South-South regions put together, Governor Seyi Makinde had not reneged on his promise, but had instead introduced the 13th-month salary.
Oyelade made the statements on Thursday when he led the management of the ministry on a courtesy visit to the NLC Secretariat in Ibadan, in solidarity with workers to mark the 2027 Workers’ Day celebrations.
Oyelade recalled that as a young reporter, he had had the privilege of covering the landmark amalgamation of the Nigeria Labour Congress, held at the Parliament Building, Ibadan, in 1978, where Comrade Hassan Sunmonu was elected as the NLC President.
“In the past 48 years, I have interacted with various NLC leadership in the state, and I can boldly say that in terms of building a harmonious relationship between government and workers, particularly from 1999 till date, none has surpassed the current labour unions in Oyo State,” the Commissioner said.
The commissioner noted that in 2019, during his inaugural governorship address, Makinde had pledged to ensure the prompt payment of workers’ salaries on or before the 25th of every month, adding that the promise was met with scepticism by many.
“However, the Nigeria Labour Congress, Oyo State Council, not only believed in that promise but supported it fully.
“As we can see, 84 months after that audacious commitment, Governor Seyi Makinde has not reneged on the promise.
“Instead, he introduced the 13th-month salary, and has increased workers’ salaries three times, even as the workforce expanded significantly due to an unprecedented recruitment policy,” Oyelade said.
The commissioner congratulated the Oyo State NLC on Workers’ Day and commended the union for its sustained support for the Makinde-led administration.
The Chairman of the state NLC, Kayode Martins, noted that the state government under Governor Makinde had taken deliberate steps to restore dignity to retirees through structured gratuity payments and the clearance of long-standing arrears.
He said many interventions by the governor had significantly reduced hardship among retirees, many of whom previously had to resort to legal action or endure prolonged delays before receiving their entitlements.
Comrade Martins noted that Oyo State had set a commendable benchmark by implementing a minimum wage above the Federal benchmark of N70,000.
Oyebamiji celebrates Osun workers
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), has set the tone for his campaign with a strong, worker-focused message, promising a people-first administration that prioritises welfare, dignity, and economic opportunity.
In a statement released by the Project AMBO-ICG Media Office to commemorate the 2026 May Day celebration, Oyebamiji addressed a broad spectrum of Osun State’s workforce, including civil servants, traders, farmers, artisans, and young professionals, acknowledging their contributions to the growth and development of the state while outlining his vision for a more inclusive and responsive government.
Felicitating with workers across the state, Oyebamiji commended their resilience, sacrifice, and commitment to keeping the wheels of Osun State’s economy turning, despite prevailing challenges.
He described them as the true drivers of progress and assured them that their labour and dedication would not go unrecognised under his administration.
“The Nigerian worker is the backbone of this country, and the Osun worker deserves to be treated as exactly that, a backbone, not an afterthought,” Oyebamiji said.
FIWON seeks social protection
The Federation of Informal Workers Organisations of Nigeria has called on the Federal Government to urgently implement comprehensive social protection programmes for the over 93 per cent of the country’s workforce operating in the informal economy.
In a statement signed by Bolaji Saadu and Gbenga Komolafe, President and General Secretary, respectively, FIWON said the celebration rang hollow for millions of working people in informal employment who continued to face staggering inequality, poverty, and structural exclusion from social protection schemes.
“Informal workers, including traders, artisans, home workers, garment makers, construction workers, farmers and food processors, domestic workers, mechanics, transporters, waste pickers, and vendors, make up over 93 per cent of Nigeria’s active workforce and contribute at least 65 per cent to the national GDP.
“Yet, these critical contributors to the nation’s economy remain largely excluded from social protection schemes such as pensions, healthcare, and workplace safety coverage, while existing social protection schemes remain largely symbolic, with ridiculously low coverage of those in desperate need of support.
“Yes, Workers’ Day is meant to celebrate the dignity of labour and the contributions of workers to national development. But what is there to celebrate when the majority of Nigerian workers cannot access basic healthcare, have no pension to look forward to, and receive no support when injured on the job?” the statement read.
