The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to urgently address the worsening economic and security challenges confronting Nigerians, warning that rising living costs, failing infrastructure, and insecurity are pushing millions into daily hardship.

In an Easter message, NLC President Joe Ajaero said the burden on workers starkly contrasts with the values of sacrifice and service expected from leadership. “The sacrifice demanded of Nigerian workers today—our wages, our safety, our very lives is one we never consented to,” he said.

Ajaero criticised political leaders for insulating themselves from citizens’ struggles, urging them to emulate the selflessness symbolised by the Cross. “Governance must be a platform for sacrificial service, not primitive accumulation,” he said, stressing that policies should uplift rather than oppress citizens.

The labour centre highlighted the impact of soaring transportation costs and persistent electricity outages, describing them as significant threats to livelihoods, productivity, and dignity. “The absence of electricity is not merely a technical failure; it cripples businesses and plunges homes into darkness,” Ajaero said.

Calling for people-centred reforms, he urged the government to restore public transport, resolve the electricity crisis, curb insecurity, and prioritise the welfare of the majority over elite interests. He also warned against the use of state power to suppress dissent or workers’ rights.

“The pains of today must be transformed into a victory for the people through policies that place their welfare above profits for a privileged few,” Ajaero said, reaffirming the NLC’s commitment to advocating for equity and justice.