“Your Labor Moves the Nation”: Ajadi Celebrates Workers on May Day

By Ibrahim Kegbegbe

As nations across the globe commemorate International Workers’ Day, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, a chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the South West, has lauded the Nigerian workforce for their resilience, dedication, and immense contributions to national development.

In a statement issued on May 1, 2025, Ambassador Ajadi emphasized the critical role workers play in shaping the country’s progress despite the socioeconomic challenges they face.

“Today is not just a public holiday; it is a celebration of strength, determination, and the spirit of the Nigerian worker,” Ajadi said. “From civil servants and teachers to health workers and artisans, every hand that labors keeps the engine of this nation running. I salute their sacrifices.”

International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day, is observed in over 80 countries around the world to honor the labor movement and the fight for workers’ rights. Its origins trace back to the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago, United States, where workers protested for the establishment of an eight-hour workday—a demand that has since shaped global labor standards.

In Nigeria, Workers’ Day has long served as a platform for reflecting on the struggles and triumphs of labor unions, as well as advocating for improved conditions, fair wages, and job security. Over the years, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other affiliated unions have used the occasion to engage the government on pressing issues affecting workers’ welfare.

Ajadi used the opportunity to call on the federal and state governments to prioritize the well-being of workers, especially in light of the current economic hardship.

“It is not enough to acknowledge our workers once a year. Their health, safety, and wages must be protected daily. Governments and private employers must rise to the occasion by creating policies that support decent livelihoods,” he said.

The NNPP stalwart also advised workers to remain united and to continue to uphold the ethics of hard work, honesty, and professionalism.

“Unity is strength. When workers stand together, they can drive change. I urge every worker not to lose hope. A better Nigeria is still possible, and their contributions will never be forgotten,” Ajadi affirmed.

He reiterated by wishing all Nigerians a safe and healthy celebration: “Stay safe, stay healthy—your hard work moves our nation forward.”

As workers march in solidarity in various parts of the country today, the message from Ambassador Ajadi stands as a powerful reminder of the indispensable role labor plays in building a sustainable and prosperous nation.

Nigeria on the Brink: Power-Hungry Leaders Must Wake Up Before the Collapse Is Irreversible

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Today, what matters most is Nigeria the once-great “Giant of Africa” tottering dangerously on the brink of political, economic and social collapse. The warning signs are clear to both citizens and foreign observers: security has imploded, the economy is in free fall and leadership is fixated not on governance, but on power retention and elite capture.

The British-born foreign journalist, David Hundeyin, recently remarked: “What we are witnessing in Nigeria is not misgovernance, it is deliberate state sabotage. You cannot destroy a country this comprehensively by accident.” This chilling diagnosis encapsulates the painful reality of a nation being asphyxiated by its very custodians.

A Nation Under Siege

Nigeria is in a state of war. The Nigerian Security Tracker, a project by the Council on Foreign Relations, reports that over 63,000 people have been killed by Boko Haram, bandits and state security forces since 2011. Under the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who took over in 2023 amidst a disputed election and judicial controversy, insecurity has worsened. In the first quarter of 2024 alone, more than 4,000 Nigerians were either killed or abducted across the country, according to SBM Intelligence.

Zamfara, Kaduna, Borno, Plateau and Niger States remain theatres of bloodshed. The armed forces are overstretched, morale is low and intelligence operations are ineffective. The recent attack on a military convoy in Niger State that left 23 soldiers dead underscores the collapse of national defense infrastructure. Worse still, there has been a deafening silence from the presidency, no strategy to reverse the trend; just recycled promises and arrogant posturing.

As Femi Falana (SAN), renowned human rights lawyer, warned in a press briefing:
“We cannot run a country where lives are being lost daily and those in power are more concerned with traveling abroad, awarding themselves privileges and weaponizing poverty against their citizens. This is not governance, it is gangsterism.”

Economic Collapse: From Giant to Beggar
The economic outlook is just as grim. Nigeria’s naira has lost over 70% of its value against the dollar since June 2023, when President Tinubu abruptly removed fuel subsidies and floated the currency without a buffer plan. This triggered hyperinflation, with food prices soaring beyond the reach of the average Nigerian. As of March 2025, inflation stands at 34.1%, while food inflation exceeds 45%, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

The World Bank has confirmed that over 133 million Nigerians now live in multidimensional poverty, a devastating indictment of an oil-rich country whose leaders claim to be “reforming” the economy. Meanwhile, over 55% of the federal budget is used to service debt, leaving little room for capital investment or social welfare. Corruption in public finance remains unchecked and no major convictions have been recorded under this administration, despite overwhelming evidence of looting in ministries and parastatals.

Leadership in Disgrace

Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of Nigeria’s decline is the quality of leadership. While the country bleeds, President Tinubu has spent more time outside the country than inside, embarking on over 18 foreign trips in less than a year, according to media tallies. His handlers claim these are for investment drives, yet no tangible result has been seen. Foreign direct investment (FDI) into Nigeria fell to $468 million in 2024, down from over $2.5 billion in 2014, as investors flee a country plagued by policy inconsistency, Insecurity and poor infrastructure.

Instead of leadership, Nigeria is governed by power blocs of ethnic, religious and political cronies. State capture is now institutionalized, with critical institutions like the judiciary and electoral commission operating under executive pressure. The 2023 presidential election was marred by rigging, voter suppression and result tampering confirmed by both local and international observers like the EU Election Mission.

As Professor Chidi Odinkalu, former chairman of Nigeria’s Human Rights Commission, put it:

“Nigeria is not being governed; it is being auctioned. Those in power are only interested in who controls what, who loots what and who silences who. The people are incidental to their power calculus.”

A Time to Choose: Reform or Ruin
It is no longer enough to “pray for Nigeria.” Prayer without purpose is procrastination. Nigeria must undergo an urgent political renaissance driven by citizens, activists, professionals and ethical leaders. There must be a shift from the current political structure based on patronage and tribal loyalty to a meritocratic, transparent and accountable governance model.

First, the president must cut the cost of governance. Over N10 billion was spent on installing solar panels at Aso Rock in 2024 at a time when over 80% of Nigerians lack regular electricity. This kind of reckless spending must end. Secondly, there must be a total overhaul of the security architecture, including better funding, training, and welfare for the armed forces. Third, institutional reforms are needed: the judiciary must be independent, the electoral system digitized and the civil service professionalized.

Most importantly, the leaders must stop the obsession with 2027. Instead of jostling for succession, they should focus on salvaging a country on the edge of civil implosion. Power for power’s sake has become the most destructive disease in Nigeria’s political space.

As Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka once declared:
“Only those who are deaf to the cry of humanity can continue to pretend that all is well in Nigeria. This is a nation crying for revolution, if not by blood, then by conscience.”

Citizens Must Rise
While blame rests squarely on those in power, the citizens cannot afford to remain spectators. Silence is complicity. Nigerians must demand accountability at every level: local, state and federal. Civil society must intensify advocacy, the media must remain bold, and the judiciary must regain its spine.

Young Nigerians in particular, have a role to play. The #EndSARS protest of 2020 was a powerful reminder of people power. That movement was not a failure it was a rehearsal. Another reckoning is coming and this time, it must be total, peaceful and sustained. Civic education, voter registration, peaceful protest and citizen journalism are tools the people must wield.

A Final Warning
Nigeria is tottering. Foreign analysts see it. Local observers live it. The warning lights are flashing red. If urgent, people-focused and ethical leadership is not activated, Nigeria could slip into a failed state status becoming a refugee-producing zone and a threat to regional stability.

The burden is heavy, but the time is now. There is still a narrow window to rescue Nigeria from the abyss. Our leaders must shed their obsession with power and embrace the responsibility of service. Governance is not a coronation; it is a contract. If they cannot fulfill it, they must step aside or be pushed aside by history.

As Archbishop Desmond Tutu once said:
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”

Let us not be neutral.
Let us rise.
Let us speak.
Let us act.
Nigeria is bleeding, but it is not yet dead; there is still time barely.

Hungry Wages, Silenced Voices: Nigerian Workers Mark May Day in Anguish, Not Celebration

As Nigerian workers join millions worldwide to mark International Workers’ Day today, 1 May 2025, the air is heavy with disillusionment rather than celebration.

With the theme “Reclaiming the Civic Space Amid Economic Hardship,” this year’s commemoration starkly captures the desperation of a labour force grappling with historic inflation, mass layoffs, wage stagnation, and government indifference.

Across Nigeria, workers say they are not just fighting for fair pay—they are fighting to survive.

A Minimum Wage That Feels Meaningless

Despite the federal government’s 2024 approval of a N70,000 minimum wage, most workers have yet to benefit. BudgIT data reveals that only 13 states have implemented the policy as of April 2025, while millions of public and private sector workers continue to earn below N40,000 monthly.

“I teach in a government primary school in Oyo State and still earn N33,000,” said Adewale Johnson, a father of three. “Even food prices have doubled. What do they expect us to survive on?”

His concern is echoed nationwide as workers watch their purchasing power disintegrate. In March, the National Bureau of Statistics recorded headline inflation at 33.2%, with food inflation soaring to 40.01%.

A February 2025 survey by SBM Intelligence found that 78% of workers earning N70,000 or less could not meet basic monthly needs such as food and transportation.

“Even where the minimum wage is paid, it is no longer enough,” said Comrade Oyinkansola Olasanoye, former Deputy President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC). “This is not just about salaries—it is about dignity, justice, and survival.”

Olasanoye decried the crumbling public services that force workers to spend their meagre earnings on private education, healthcare, and housing.

“A raise means nothing when workers must fend for themselves in every area of life,” she said. “It’s a vicious cycle that deepens poverty.”

She also warned that democratic freedoms were under threat: “Union leaders are blackmailed, voices are silenced, and civic space is shrinking. Reclaiming it is non-negotiable.”

Mass Layoffs and Job Insecurity

In addition to poor wages, mass retrenchments have further destabilized the workforce. A joint report by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and TUC revealed that over 500,000 formal jobs were lost in 2024 due to economic downturns, currency instability, and falling consumer demand.

Sectors worst hit include manufacturing, oil and gas, banking, fintech, and logistics.

“In 2024, we had 120 staff. Today, we are down to 35,” said Chinyere Ofor, an HR manager at a Lagos-based manufacturing firm. “Operating costs have tripled.”

NLC Lagos Chairperson Funmi Sessi painted an even bleaker picture: “Accommodation, transportation, healthcare, feeding—everything is getting worse. And the government is not doing enough to intervene.”

Sessi accused successive governments of failing Nigerian workers and warned the current administration not to repeat the cycle of neglect. “The suffering is too much. Nigerians are groaning. Workers are tired. Leaders must act—now.”

She also called on citizens to play their part: “We need to stop exploiting one another. If you sell something for triple its value, you’re contributing to the hardship.”

Precarious Work and Legal Vacuum

According to the International Labour Organization’s 2024 report, more than 65% of Nigerian workers are in precarious or informal jobs with no legal protection or job security. Experts say Nigeria’s Labour Act of 2004 is outdated and poorly enforced.

Dr. Kehinde Omotosho, a labour rights analyst, noted, “Most companies face no consequences for violating labour laws. Workers can’t afford legal battles, and enforcement is weak.”

Only 28% of Nigerian workers have signed employment contracts, a 2023 report by the Centre for Labour Studies found, exposing millions to abuse and exploitation.

Pension Crisis Adds to Worker Despair

Even for retirees, the future remains uncertain. The National Pension Commission (PenCom) reports over N15 billion in unpaid pensions as of Q4 2024.

“I retired in 2021 and have yet to receive a single naira,” said Bashir Musa, a former local government health officer in Bauchi. “They say my file is still ‘processing’.”

The situation is even more dire in the informal sector, where over 40 million Nigerians remain excluded from formal pension schemes. PenCom’s Micro Pension Plan, launched to cover informal workers, has only enrolled 100,000 individuals by early 2025.

A Call for National Unity

Despite the grim realities, labour leaders are urging workers and citizens alike to resist despair.

“The TUC is not passive. They are strategic,” said Olasanoye. “But they need support. This is not just their fight—it’s all of ours.”

As Nigeria’s working class marks this symbolic day, one thing is clear: the cries from the shop floors, classrooms, clinics, and construction sites are no longer just for fair wages—they are a demand for justice, dignity, and a future worth working for.