By
Taoreed Abdullahi
The first day of May is dedicated to celebrating the resilience, dedication, and hard work of workers. May Day is an annual holiday that recognizes the international working class and is celebrated worldwide. It commemorates the struggle for workers’ rights and honours the lives lost in the fight for the eight-hour workday that we now take for granted. This occasion serves to acknowledge and thank workers and labourers globally for their vital contributions. It is promoted by the international labour movement and recognized internationally.
In Nigeria, Workers’ Day has been a public holiday since 1981. Traditionally, people gather on this day to celebrate with friends and family, commemorating the workers and labourers whose essential efforts keep countries and businesses running smoothly.
This year, 2025, comes with numerous challenges for workers in both the private and public sectors. Recently, the Federal Government announced an increase in the minimum wage from thirty thousand Naira to seventy thousand Naira, with implementation beginning in September 2024 for federal workers. This announcement came just seven months after negotiations started. It is important to note that organized labour leaders from both the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress faced opposition from various groups, including the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, NECA, and the Governors’ Forum. They opposed the proposed minimum wage of two hundred and fifty thousand Naira, arguing that it could cripple the economy, which has led to the current situation that workers find themselves in.
President Bola Tinubu intervened by setting the minimum wage at seventy thousand Naira and reducing the duration of wage reviews from five years to three. Labour leaders felt pressured to accept these terms for the peace and progress of the nation. In the following months, the Federal Government also announced increases in electricity tariffs and petrol prices.
The increase in wages, which workers at the state, federal, and private sectors have discussed, has little effect on their lives due to the declining economy. Many workers feel that the minimum wage is like the government using one hand to give while using the other to take away. They argue that the seventy thousand Naira minimum wage is insufficient to cover basic needs like food and transportation.
Our findings in various federal ministries were striking, as level thirteen employees, who are in mid-management, often earn less than two hundred and fifty thousand Naira—approximately one hundred and fifty dollars—monthly after tax, pension, and other deductions. This situation arises because the federal government has not factored in certain allowances paid to workers. While the basic salary is accounted for, other allowances are still calculated using the old template.
Breaking it down, these workers are left with only about eight thousand Naira, or five dollars, to manage each day. This amount is quite limited, especially when considering the economic conditions in Lagos State. A worker might spend close to three thousand Naira on transportation to reach their workplace from their home, while an additional three thousand five hundred Naira is needed just for personal food expenses.
The minimum wage has left many workers struggling to pay their bills, as the prices of goods and services surpass their income. As a result, numerous workers have turned to loans to meet their daily needs. School fees and accommodation costs have also risen significantly. Currently, in rural communities within Lagos, the annual rent for a two-bedroom flat ranges between one million five hundred thousand Naira and two million Naira. Given these circumstances, how are workers managing to cope with the current minimum wage?
As Nigerian workers celebrate despite the challenges of hardship and poverty, it is crucial for the Federal and State Governments to address pressing issues, such as the payment of allowances alongside the current minimum wage. This adjustment would help ease the burden on workers, many of whom are enduring significant struggles in silence. It would be a welcome initiative if the government could consider reintroducing palliative measures in workers’ salaries to bring some relief and joy to their lives.
Additionally, introducing mass transit options for workers could be beneficial. The government could invest in CNG buses for ministries, agencies, and departments to transport workers from their offices to nearby residences. This would help alleviate some of the transportation challenges they face, as commuting often consumes a substantial portion—up to fifty per cent—of their salaries.
Efforts towards affordable housing should also be intensified, particularly for workers, as many are living in rented accommodations that impose a heavy financial burden on them. The annual payments to landlords can cause significant stress for workers.
Furthermore, creating a conducive working environment is essential. Many workplaces are in dire need of improvement, and some workers feel neglected or abandoned due to the high costs of maintaining adequate office space.
To enhance job satisfaction and productivity, training programmes should be made mandatory for workers. Many have not had access to local or international training for years, and such opportunities would help them acquire new skills and knowledge, fostering innovation that can elevate their work performance.
Finally, there is a pressing need to recruit new staff to fill positions left vacant by retirements or relocations. This is essential to alleviate the excessive workloads on remaining employees, as some are forced to perform the duties of multiple workers.
TAOREED ABDULLAHI WROTE FROM LAGOS AND IS REACHABLE VIA
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