Millions of workers under the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have raised urgent demands for the federal and state governments to address key concerns, including the need for a review of workers’ conditions, higher salaries, and immediate actions on the escalating electricity crisis, rising cost of living, insecurity, and unemployment.
Led by NLC President Joe Ajaero and TUC President Festus Osifo, the workers called on President Bola Tinubu to follow the lead of his predecessor, former President Muhammadu Buhari, by raising the retirement age for all categories of workers to 65 years. Buhari had previously increased the retirement age for teachers, health professionals, and judges.
The workers also pressed for a revision of the current N70,000 minimum wage, arguing that it no longer meets the growing cost of living. They emphasized the worsening economic conditions as a significant challenge for workers struggling to provide for their families.
During his May Day address at Eagle Square in Abuja, President Tinubu acknowledged the hardships workers face, attributing the economic challenges to global trends. He assured the workers that solutions, including policies aimed at job creation, poverty alleviation, and economic growth, were being developed.
However, the workers expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s response, particularly its failure to address past demands. They also boycotted the centralized May Day celebration in Rivers State due to the imposition of emergency rule, gathering at the NLC secretariat in Port Harcourt to call for the reinstatement of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Dr. Ngozi Odu, and members of the state’s House of Assembly. The workers in Rivers further demanded the restoration of democracy, citing better working conditions under democratic governance.
Additionally, the NLC canceled May Day celebrations in both Rivers and Edo states, citing political interference and the imposition of emergency rule in Rivers as reasons for their boycott.
