Workers as the Backbone of a Nation: Nigeria’s Labour Force Must Lead the Rescue Mission

By George Omagbemi Sylvester

“All great nations are built by workers who do their best for themselves and the country.” These compelling words by Otunba Dr. Segun Showunmi remind us of a timeless truth: no nation rises above the dedication, sweat and courage of its workers. As Nigeria commemorates Workers’ Day, it is not enough to chant praises or post hollow tributes online. The Nigerian worker must now awaken to a more pressing, revolutionary responsibility, to be the moral and political vanguard in rescuing a country teetering on the brink of collapse.

For decades, Nigerian workers have toiled under unimaginable economic pressures, living from paycheck to paycheck, many without dignity, fair wages, or basic social security. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), once potent forces of resistance against tyranny and injustice, have become shadows of their former selves and crippled by political compromise, internal corruption and systemic intimidation. It is time for a rebirth.

Nigeria: A Country in Reverse Gear
Nigeria, once touted as the “Giant of Africa,” has become a failed promise. Despite having the largest economy in Africa by GDP size, over 133 million Nigerians are classified as multi-dimensionally poor (National Bureau of Statistics, 2023). Unemployment stands at 33.3%, and inflation continues to crush the purchasing power of an already overburdened citizenry. The current minimum wage of ₦30,000 (about $20 monthly) is not only a moral embarrassment, but a statistical absurdity in the face of skyrocketing fuel, electricity, food, rent and healthcare costs.

The recent calls for a ₦70,000 minimum wage by labour unions have been largely ignored by over 20 state governments, despite the Nigerian Constitution’s directive on equitable welfare. Workers are being enslaved in their own country while politicians feast.

Yet, in the face of this adversity, Nigerian workers must remember: they are not powerless. They are the makers of nations. They are the unseen hands that build cities, schools, roads and factories. They are the intellectuals, the civil servants, the farmers, the teachers, the doctors, the engineers. They are more than voters, they are a force of transformation.

Labour Must Become a Political Weapon
To rescue Nigeria, the working class must reawaken their political consciousness. The time has come for Nigerian labour to evolve beyond protests and strikes into full electoral participation. Workers must become the builders not only of infrastructure but of democracy itself. They must demand policies, shape leadership and hold power accountable.

Thomas Sankara, the revolutionary Burkinabè leader who transformed Burkina Faso in four short years, famously said: “You cannot carry out fundamental change without a certain amount of madness… the courage to turn your back on the old formulas.” Nigerian workers must embrace such boldness. Voting every four years and returning to silence is no longer sufficient. A deliberate, organized movement of workers must be forged to disrupt the current cycle of kleptocracy and mediocrity.

Workers as Nation Builders: Historical Truths
History offers proof that great nations were built by empowered labour. In the United States, the New Deal reforms of the 1930s, which rescued America from the Great Depression, were largely driven by union pressure and workers’ demands. In South Africa, COSATU (Congress of South African Trade Unions) was pivotal in fighting apartheid alongside the ANC. In Ghana, the Trades Union Congress played a key role in resisting colonial rule.

What about Nigeria? Our own past glows with examples: the nationwide strikes led by Michael Imoudu in the 1940s energized the nationalist movement. Pa Hassan Sunmonu and Adams Oshiomhole were once symbols of principled resistance. Sadly, today’s labour leadership, rather than mobilize for systemic change, often appears co-opted by the same ruling elites that perpetuate oppression.

The Struggle of Our Heroes Past Must Not Be in Vain
The Nigerian national anthem reminds us: “The labour of our heroes past shall never be in vain.” But what do we make of that line in a country where pensions are unpaid, workers are retrenched for unionism and salaries are swallowed by inflation? If we are to honor our heroes, then we must finish the battle they began.

Ken Saro-Wiwa, the slain Niger Delta environmental activist, once said: “The Nigerian nation is at war with its people.” Today, that war continues, not with guns and tanks, but with poverty, corruption and misgovernance. Nigerian workers are under siege. It is time to fight back, not with violence, but with unity, organisation and bold political engagement.

As Amílcar Cabral of Guinea-Bissau asserted, “Tell no lies, claim no easy victories.” Nigeria’s problems are rooted in a corrupt elite who have hijacked every arm of governance; executive, legislative and even labour. The fight for a new Nigeria will be hard, but it is a fight worth waging.

Reclaiming the Soul of Nigeria through Workers’ Power
Imagine if every teacher refused to teach until state governments invested 25% of their budgets into education. Imagine if all health workers grounded the hospitals until every Nigerian had access to basic healthcare. Imagine if the NLC and TUC backed credible worker-friendly candidates and mobilized 20 million votes in the 2027 elections. Imagine if we had a working-class party, not as a fringe movement, but as a national force built from the ground up.

The 2023 elections showed that a hunger for change exists among Nigerians. Yet, the political establishment manipulated the process with impunity. The working class must therefore not only vote but guard their vote, mobilize their communities and demand electronic transparency and judicial accountability.

What Must Be Done?
Revamp Labour Leadership: Current union leaders must be held accountable. The rank-and-file should demand transparency and replace docile leaders with visionary fighters.

Form a Worker-Centric Political Front: A credible, pan-Nigerian platform must emerge from the working class. Not another ethnically hijacked party, but one with ideology, focus and inclusivity.

Invest in Civic Education: Workers must understand their rights, the Constitution and how policy affects them. Knowledge is power.

Support Economic Sovereignty: Workers must pressure the government to invest in local production, revive industries and end dependence on imported goods.

Resist Divide-and-Rule Tactics: Ethnic and religious differences must not be used to weaken worker unity. The oppressor thrives on division.

In the Words of Giants
To conclude, let us borrow from the wisdom of Nelson Mandela: “Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity; it is an act of justice.” Nigerian workers must now pursue that justice, not beg for it. Martin Luther King Jr. once declared: “The labor movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress.” Let the Nigerian labour movement rise again, this time not just as a protest group, but as a nation-saving force.

Happy Workers’ Day to all Nigerian workers, may your courage light the path to a new Nigeria.