Today is May 1, also known as the International Workers’ Day, a date set aside to commemorate the struggles of organised labour in the quest of enhanced welfare for workers. The May Day celebration dates back to 1886 when workers in the United States of America decided to go on strike against allowing them to work for more than eight hours a day. Thus, May Day is a symbol of workers’ resilience in demanding for better living conditions, among other demands. The first Labour Day, organised by Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan, took place in India on May 1, 1923, and was thereafter celebrated around the world to advocate the rights of working people.
Like in many other countries, with the exception of the United States of America and Canada, the Nigerian workers will today join their counterparts in other countries with parades to be attended by all organised workers, professionals, students, traders and other civil society organisations, among others. Today’s event was first held in Kano in 1980 when the then administration of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), under the leadership of Governor Abubakar Rimi, declared the day as a public holiday. The federal government, then led by President Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari, subsequently in 1981 declared a national holiday to venerate workers’ efforts in national development.
Being an indispensable force for national development, today’s event has become a reference point in calling to remembrance the ingenuity and sacrifice by Nigerian workers for economic development and a day for justice and equity. No doubt, current travails caused by present reforms embarked by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in rescuing the nation’s economy from the doldrums have affected not only the living conditions of workers, but also the average Nigerian. Government’s response in arresting the decline in workers’ living conditions is gradually improving the quality of life.
Today’s event, with the theme, ‘Revolutionising health and safety: the role of AI and digitalisation at work’, examines how technologies and robotics are impacting on occupational safety and health of workers. The International Trade Union Congress (ITUC) is continuing with the 2025 theme: ‘Occupational health and safety: A fundamental right at work’ which dwells on impacts of artificial intelligence and digitalisation on workers’ health and safety. Other topics that are billed to be discussed today include: ‘Protection against biological hazards in the working environment, Protection against biological hazards in the working environment. They will feature on how effective labour standards can be adopted in the interest of working people.
The welfare of workers in the nearly two years of the Tinubu presidency has plummeted the quality of life, with the exchange rate between the local currency and foreign currencies far apart in terms of value. The removal of fuel subsidy on the inauguration of the current administration culminated in the hike of prices of goods and services. To stave off the declining living conditions, the federal government increased the national minimum wage to from N30,000 to N70,000. for the first time, the Federal Government ordered states to implement. It also directed states to implement the new national minimum wage law, thereby avoiding another form of negotiation by state workers. It is on the insistence of the Tinubu presidency that most, if not all, the state governors have fully implemented the N70,000 minimum wage.
There’s no doubt that the roles of workers have gone a long way in national development. Though the president kept his promise to organised labour during the 2024 Workers’ Day, especially in improving their welfare, the setting up of the 37-member Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage on January 30, 2024, by the federal government, in accordance with existing realities, recommended a new minimum wage N70,000, thereby avoiding unnecessary squabbles in resolving amicably what would have lingered unnecessarily for months or even years.
Nearly two years after assuming power, the incumbent administration has continued to place an unprecedented premium on workers’ welfare by keeping its side of the bargain over the new minimum wage. That both the government and organised labour jointly agreed to review the minimum wage after every five years demonstrates the duo’s level of commitment and devotion of the Tinubu presidency to undertake periodic review in line with realities. This week’s approval for the payment of the outstanding five-month N35,000 wage award arrears to federal government workers is reflective of the government’s determination to improve the earning power of workers.
Blueprint appeals to the federal government to ensure it leaves no stone unturned in keeping to its promise of improved welfare for workers and a periodic review of the minimum wage. Creating an enabling working environment for workers remains indispensable in tackling corruption and ensuring efficiency in the nation’s bureaucracy. More than anything, the workers’ union must play a critical role in the fight against corruption that has robbed Nigeria of vital resources to pay living wages and undertake development for infrastructural development.