May Day 2025 into a national protest, demanding better conditions, a living wage, and economic justice.
May Day 2025: Not a Celebration, But a Cry for Justice
Every year, May 1st International Workers’ Day is celebrated around the world with parades, music, and gratitude for the workforce.
However, in 2025, Nigerian workers chose a different path.
Rather than celebrating, they took to the streets with pain in their hearts and fire in their voices.
Backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), they transformed May Day into a national protest against worsening economic hardship.
No longer willing to suffer in silence, Nigerian workers sent a powerful message to the government and the world: “We are not lazy.
We deserve to live and work in dignity.”
The Harsh Reality: Nigerian Workers Are Struggling to Survive
For millions of workers in Nigeria, life has become a brutal cycle of survival.
Inflation continues to rise while salaries remain stagnant or unpaid. Many workers earn less than what they spend on transportation and food every month.
The dream of a better life feels more distant than ever.
Teachers, nurses, factory workers, and civil servants alike share a common struggle working long hours without being able to afford the most basic human needs.
Skipping meals, pulling children out of school, and avoiding hospital visits have become the norm.
The working class is under siege, and the government appears disconnected from their daily suffering.
Living Wage or Living Nightmare?
At the heart of the protest is a simple but urgent demand: a living wage.
Nigerian workers are not asking for luxury.
They want salaries that match the cost of living.
Today, the N30,000 minimum wage passed into law years ago is not only outdated but also ignored by several state governments.
Many workers report earning less than the legal minimum wage. Others haven’t received their pay in months.
Meanwhile, the prices of food, rent, transportation, and electricity keep skyrocketing.
A living wage is no longer a negotiation it’s a necessity for survival.
NLC Speaks Out: “We Are Being Dehumanized”
During his passionate Workers’ Day speech, NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero didn’t hold back.
He declared that Nigerian workers are not just underpaid they are being dehumanized.
He described a workforce subjected to injustice, exploitation, and neglect.
Ajaero emphasized that it’s unacceptable for the political elite to enjoy extravagant salaries while workers starve.
He called for a realistic minimum wage that reflects today’s economic conditions.
According to him, workers are not seeking handouts they are demanding justice.
Broken Promises and Poor Policies: The Role of Government
The NLC pointed directly at government policies as major contributors to workers’ hardship.
The removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the naira were introduced as economic reforms.
However, these policies were implemented without safety nets for the poor.
As a result, basic commodities doubled in price, transport fares soared, and the cost of living shot through the roof.
Worst of all, salaries remained stagnant or worse, unpaid. These reforms, though perhaps well-intended, ended up punishing the very people they were meant to help.
Foreign Influence and Neoliberalism: IMF and World Bank in the Spotlight
The protest also criticized the influence of international financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank.
According to the NLC, these organizations push neoliberal policies that prioritize profit over people.
These foreign-driven models have led to the privatization of essential services, widespread job losses,
and the weakening of workers’ rights.
Ajaero warned that unless Nigeria charts its own course based on its unique realities foreign policies will continue to deepen inequality and suffering.
A Divided Nation: The Rich vs. The Working Poor
There is a growing sense that Nigeria is splitting into two nations: one for the rich and powerful, and another for the struggling majority.
Lawmakers earn millions in monthly allowances, while the average worker struggles to feed their family.
During the protest, many speakers accused political leaders of being out of touch.
They highlighted how politicians ride in convoys and enjoy luxury lifestyles while public hospitals lack drugs and schools remain underfunded.
The workers’ message was clear: “If leaders won’t feel our pain, they don’t deserve our trust.”
Voices from the Ground: Workers Share Their Pain
The most powerful part of the May Day protest came from the workers themselves.
One teacher from Kano revealed that her monthly salary is just N28,000, yet her expenses exceed N50,000.
A nurse from Lagos cried while explaining how she lost her husband due to an inability to afford hospital treatment.
Another worker said, “We are not lazy. We just want to live. We just want to be treated like humans.”
These personal stories brought the protest to life. They showed the human cost of economic hardship and government neglect.
Labour’s Demands: A New Social Contract
The NLC presented a clear set of demands during the protest:
A Living Wage that adjusts with inflation and reflects real living costs.
Full Enforcement of Labour Laws to ensure every employer public and private respects wage laws.
Affordable Social Services including housing, healthcare, transportation, and education.
Worker Representation in policymaking that affects the economy and labour.
The union warned that if these demands are not addressed promptly, they will call for nationwide strikes.
Nigerian workers are no longer willing to wait.
No More Silence: Workers Vow to Resist
Comrade Ajaero concluded his speech with a powerful declaration: “We will no longer beg for our rights.
We will demand them loudly, legally, and boldly.”
The NLC vowed to continue mobilizing and organizing across the country.
They urged the government to act quickly, warning that failure to respond may trigger unrest and further economic instability.
United for a Common Cause: Labour Stands in Solidarity
Despite efforts to divide the movement, Nigerian labour unions stood united on May Day.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC), the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and other affiliates joined the NLC in full solidarity.
This show of unity sent a strong message: when workers stand together, they are unstoppable.
Their collective strength can drive meaningful change. This was not just a protest; it was a turning point.
What Can Be Done Now? Practical Solutions from Labour
Beyond protests, the NLC offered practical, immediate solutions to ease worker hardship:
Launch a transparent review of the minimum wage involving all stakeholders.
Offer tax relief and food subsidies to low-income earners.
Regulate and subsidize public transport to reduce commuter expenses.
Invest in training and upskilling programs for job resilience.
Develop a national economic recovery plan with workers’ needs at its core.
These steps are not just demands they are workable solutions. Implementing them could lift millions out of poverty and stabilize Nigeria’s workforce.
The Bigger Picture: Work Must Come with Dignity
May Day 2025 is not just about protests it’s about principles. At its core, this movement is a call for dignity in labour.
Every Nigerian worker deserves fair pay, decent working conditions, and a government that listens.
No one should work full-time and still go to bed hungry. Yet that is the reality for many. This must change.
True national progress is impossible if the people who build the country are neglected.
We All Have a Role to Play
Change won’t come from the top alone.
Every Nigerian whether you are a policymaker, employer, civil society leader, or everyday citizen has a role to play.
Now is the time to support the call for justice.
Share these stories.
Join peaceful protests.
Hold leaders accountable.
Let the government know that the people are watching and waiting.
Conclusion: A Future Worth Fighting For
Nigerian workers are not asking for too much. They are simply demanding fairness, respect, and the right to live in dignity.
Their voices on May Day were not filled with hate but with hope that the system can change, that leaders can listen, and that tomorrow can be better.
If Nigeria is to thrive, it must begin with those who keep it running its workers.
Take a Stand for Nigerian Workers
The voices of Nigerian workers are loud, clear, and powerful but they need all of us to amplify them.
If you believe in fairness, dignity, and the right to a living wage, don’t just read act.
Share this story, talk about it, tag your representatives, and support peaceful labor actions.
Together, we can demand the change our workforce deserves.
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Author: Contributor | Date: May 1, 2025
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