Today is Workers’ Day! Otherwise called May Day, it is set aside to celebrate workers’ contributions to the nation’s economy.
This year’s celebration, themed: “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the Midst of Economic Hardship,” is being observed across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, reports Channels TV.
But this year’s event comes amid the ballooning living costs and a shrinking economy.
Since the floating of the naira and the removal of fuel subsidy by the President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the cost of living has more than doubled, leading to a push for a new minimum wage.
Despite promises of reforms, improved welfare, and working conditions for workers, millions of workers continue to face unsafe conditions, mass layoffs, and low wages, among other issues.
While President Tinubu approved N70,000 as the new minimum wage after months of negotiations with labour unions, that move, which was made to cushion the impacts of the government’s reforms and rising living costs, is yet to be implemented by several states.
A civic organisation, BudgIT, said only 17 states have implemented the new minimum wage as of April 2025.
Several private organisations are yet to start implementation, citing rising costs of operations.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the country’s inflation rate is at 23.18 % as of March 2025, and food inflation is at 40.01 %, further worsening the living costs among workers and Nigerians alike.
•Security operatives at Eagle Square in Abuja during the May Day Celebration 2025
The celebration of the day has also begun in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where the workers have gathered at Eagle Square. Several labour unions and their members are already on the ground for the celebrations.
In Kano State, the workers are calling for better wages and working conditions.
The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state, Abbas Ibrahim, re-echoed the call during an event to mark the 2025 Workers’ Day.
“Workers need improved salaries,” he said.
