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As Nigerian workers marked May Day 2025, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has delivered a scathing assessment of the country’s economic direction under President Bola Tinubu, declaring that the promises of the Renewed Hope Agenda have failed to materialise for the average worker.
While acknowledging the recent increase in the national minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000, NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero said the wage hike has been rendered almost meaningless by runaway inflation, skyrocketing fuel prices, and the collapsing value of the naira.
“Even if you pay workers one million naira, it won’t matter if inflation is unchecked. Workers now spend nearly all their income on energy and transportation,” Ajaero stated.
He criticised economic reforms such as the floating of the naira and fuel subsidy removal, calling them poorly implemented and detached from the daily realities of Nigerian workers.
The NLC also condemned the government’s tax policies, describing them as “injurious to the workforce”, and urged a comprehensive overhaul of policies to reflect the true value of wages and living costs.
Comrade Benson Upah, Head of Information and Public Affairs at the NLC, echoed these concerns in an interview, accusing the Tinubu administration of inflicting more pain on citizens through “a market-driven model devoid of a human face.”
“The removal of fuel subsidies, rising tariffs, and the absence of social safety nets have pushed workers into desperation,” Upah said.
He noted that despite the president’s campaign promise to alleviate poverty, revive the economy, and enhance security, the reality has been starkly different.
“There are no unemployment benefits, no subsidised healthcare, and no safety nets. In developed countries, subsidies support the poor—here, they say it distorts the economy,” he added.
The NLC urged the federal government to “go back to the drawing board”, recommending the establishment of robust welfare systems and inclusive economic policies that prioritise real people over market statistics.
As labour voices grow louder, May Day 2025 has become a symbol of rising frustration among Nigerian workers and a demand for real, people-centered reforms.
