ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- Nigeria’s organised labour has delivered one of its strongest critiques yet of the nation’s economic and security situation, rejecting official growth claims and warning that the economy is increasingly serving a tiny elite while millions of citizens sink deeper into poverty.
At the 2026 May Day celebration held at Eagle Square, Abuja, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), led by Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, accused the government of presiding over what they described as “paper growth without real relief,” while threatening nationwide industrial action if insecurity and hardship persist.
The unions said Nigeria is drifting into a dangerous social and economic crisis where “poverty tightens its grip daily,” insisting that while macroeconomic indicators suggest modest growth, ordinary citizens experience worsening hunger, joblessness, and insecurity.
They argued that workers remain the backbone of the economy, yet are the least rewarded.
According to them, “Workers remain at the very heart of every industry, every economy, and every success story,” but paradoxically “create immense wealth yet receive only a fraction of it.”
Labour directly challenged government economic claims, particularly projections suggesting GDP growth of about 3.6 per cent.
The unions said such figures are disconnected from reality, stressing that inflation data and economic reports do not reflect lived experiences.
They described the situation as one of “paper growth without jobs, stability without prosperity, and reform without relief,” insisting that national wealth is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few.
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According to them, “An economy that serves only the top 1 per cent while leaving the 99 per cent behind cannot be sustainable,” adding that current policies appear to favour an ultra-wealthy minority.
Labour also painted a grim picture of worsening living conditions, claiming that about 65 per cent of Nigerians roughly 150 million people now live in poverty.
They warned that around 10,000 people are pushed into poverty daily, describing the trend as “alarming and unsustainable.”
The unions further highlighted rising food insecurity, overcrowded urban centres, and the return of diseases associated with extreme deprivation in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, including kwashiorkor, craw-craw, and marasmus.
“This is a grim picture of a nation under severe strain,” they said.
On wages, labour announced that negotiations for a new national minimum wage will commence in July 2026, saying the process would begin early to avoid past delays.
However, they went further to demand immediate relief, insisting that from July this year, all workers should receive 100 per cent of their basic salary to cushion economic hardship.
“We demand a living wage, not a minimum wage,” the unions declared.
On security, labour issued its starkest warning yet, declaring that Nigeria is effectively facing war conditions due to rising killings, kidnappings, and attacks across the country.
They said the scale and frequency of violence place Nigeria among the most dangerous places in the world, stressing that insecurity is no longer isolated but systemic.
“It is not isolated incidents. It is a war against our people,” they said, noting that citizens are unsafe in homes, on roads, and workplaces.
In a major escalation, the unions warned they may direct workers nationwide to stay at home if insecurity continues unchecked.
They said such a decision would be taken only if necessary but insisted: “Nigerian workers may no longer continue going to work with this level of insecurity.”
“The safety of workers is non-negotiable,” they added.
Labour also criticised the electricity and petroleum sectors, describing them as evidence of failed reforms.
They said over a decade after privatisation, Nigerians still suffer persistent blackouts despite more than N10 trillion spent.
“What was promised as reform has become a burden,” they said, adding that citizens now pay more for less electricity supply.
They also condemned the paradox of an oil-rich country struggling with fuel instability and rising costs.
The unions accused political leaders of disconnect from citizens, pointing out that many prefer foreign education for their children while neglecting public schools at home.
They warned that governance risks becoming an “extractive enterprise” serving narrow interests.
On corruption, they said illicit financial flows and subsidy fraud have bled the nation of trillions, declaring: “This is not mere corruption; it is a system that continuously drains the nation.”
They launched a campaign titled “Stop the Bleeding,” saying every stolen naira represents a stolen future.
Looking ahead, labour signalled a more assertive political stance ahead of the 2027 general elections.
They vowed to support only candidates committed to workers’ welfare and national development, warning: “2027 will be different. No more voting fodder.”
Despite their grim assessment, labour leaders ended with a call for unity and resistance.
“You are not victims. You are the engine of this nation,” they said, adding: “Engines do not beg; they move.”
They concluded that meaningful change would not come from leadership alone but from collective worker action, declaring: “Our nation can be saved but only together, only now.”