Workers’ Day

By Uzair Adam

As Nigerian workers joined their global counterparts in commemorating this year’s May Day, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu admitted the realities of economic hardship confronting citizens, including hunger, insecurity, unemployment, and the rising cost of living.

Represented by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, at Eagle Square, Abuja, Tinubu stressed the importance of creating an inclusive and secure environment for Nigerian workers, noting that the government is committed to policies that promote job creation, poverty reduction, and economic growth.

The president said the theme of this year’s celebration is a reminder of the collective responsibility to make every worker feel valued and protected.

He highlighted the administration’s resolve to restore hope through transparent governance, equity, and civic engagement, assuring workers of their right to organise and advocate without fear.

Meanwhile, Organised Labour used the occasion to issue a 20-point demand to the Federal Government.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) called for an end to genocidal killings, bloodshed, and state repression, while also demanding urgent reforms in taxation, fair wages, and job security.

In their joint address, NLC President Joe Ajaero and TUC’s Festus Osifo condemned the prevailing insecurity across the country and accused the government of failing in its primary responsibility of protecting lives and property.

They cited recent attacks in parts of Benue, Zamfara, Ondo, Kebbi, and Plateau States, describing the situation as a national emergency.

The labour leaders also criticised the current economic policies, warning that they have plunged millions into multidimensional poverty.

They noted that inflation has surged to 33.69%, with food inflation at 40.53%, rendering workers’ salaries nearly worthless.

They decried the mass exit of multinational firms and rising youth unemployment, asserting that Nigeria’s economic fundamentals are not aligned with the welfare of its people.

They urged the government to reverse policies that favour corporate interests over human dignity and called for a review of the electricity privatization exercise.

Labour also demanded the extension of the 65-year retirement age to all public servants, automatic pension adjustments to reflect inflation, and the end of exploitative practices in the civil service.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also weighed in, calling on the government to treat workers as partners in development rather than mere economic tools.

In her remarks, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, lauded Nigerian workers for their resilience and patriotism, acknowledging their vital role in sustaining the nation’s fabric through turbulent times.

While the President and his representatives reiterated their commitment to a better future, labour leaders noted that urgent and genuine reforms, not promises, are required to salvage the country from its current trajectory.

By Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Abdullahi

There are some few, effortless and simple things, which I have already assured myself that, if they are not confronted and solved squarely and completely in Nigeria, we should all continue to consider Nigeria as a joke. In other words, if the Nigerian rulers and the ruled are unable to solve these simple managerial crises, we should all forget about anything development and continue to wallow in our self deception mode. On these issues, I have assurance but I remain to be corrected. They are only four (4) simple things, among others;

1) Fixed date for the payment of salary: this doesn’t mean that, salaries should be paid on 24th, 25th… it should be paid on whichever day chose!n by the government. However, one thing must be considered, that’s FIXING a specific date for that purpose. Salary is something that must be paid, then, why this deceptive and unorganized approach? Right now that I am talking to you, many workers haven’t received their pay for April, and May is already on.

For Nigeria to even start thinking of development, workers must be truly and carefully considered. Their rights must be paid on time, because, as they say, it is not a privilege. If the government likes, let it pay it on 30th of each month, or even make every month to contain 31 days and pay it on the 31st. Let’s have a fixed date please. If not, let’s take the police for instance. A police may not know when to get his salary for risking his entire life to protect people; however, he is sure, he can be bribed by the poor through corrupt ways. How can you deny him something that he is certain about with an uncertain? This penetrates deeper into every sector.

2) Respecting time: one of the cantankerous evil that people abuse all the time. It comes to the extent that responsible people would call for a meeting and say 4pm, but deep down in their mind they know the meeting would start by 5pm. If you ask them why, they would say people would not come on time. I use to be confused on this. So in Nigeria we respect late comers more than how we respect punctual people! We give them extra time and we don’t mind those who come on time. They, their punctuality and the respect they give to time should all go to hell. Unless we change this attitude, we will never do it right.

If you want to fight with (responsible) Nigerians insist on punctuality. Many of us, including leaders fail in this respect.

When we are in Nigeria, we hardly do official things on their respective timing. But when we go elsewhere we keep to time. Therefore, it is obvious that the problem is from us and we can easily adjust if we know there is repercussions.

3) Scheduling the epileptic power supply: distribution must be scheduled and properly planned. We are not even talking about standard supply, we are talking standardizing the supply of the short one we get. The little we have must not be given at random. People are entitled to know when they should expect the little light. Let it be 10:20am-11:20am on Wednesdays? Saturdays and Sundays nights? Two hours every day? When? All these must be planned and relayed to the payers if we are not jokers! This electric power people switch on and off at their will and we pay for the rubbish.

4) The National Carrier: this is bigger than us due to corruption. We should have a National career at least for our internal development. There are so many countries around the world especially in Africa which Nigeria and Nigerians underrate and undervalue, however, they have their Sudan, Ethiopian, Mali, Malawi, airlines, but the so-called giant of looting rely on ants for its air transport survival. This is a mischief of the highest order.

5) The over dependence and over reliance on dollar. Mark what I say, overdependence! Nigeria can use dollar. This is one of the obvious weaknesses which many people have agreed to live with, especially the Nigerians. However, the overdependence is alarming! Almost every individual in Nigeria, big or small, knows about dollar. Nigeria should learn to uplift its currency and leave dollar alone. Even ordinary people now know how to hoard dollar at the expense of the economic development of the nation. The bigger you are the more detached you are from using Nigerian currency. Kobo, 1 Naira coin have all gone into extinction physically but they are still there in our calculations. Now Tinubu’s government has made 5, 10 and 20 naira notes valueless and meaningless. They look so ugly to be touched by a clean hand.

There are so many other simple things which you can help to count. In other countries they are not even remembered because they are subconsciously arranged for over hundred years. But in Nigeria, we are still battling with something which can be corrected in two months. In Nigeria we face price hikes, lack of infrastructures, no medicines, no qualitative education, no good roads and no nothing….. You can continue counting our lacks, they are so many. However, the above mentioned five things are very simple, they can be corrected with a simple verbal order, without putting much money and effort. May Nigeria be great soon!

Muhammad Kano
May day 2017

NB: This was written in 2017, with little correction now but nothing much has changed.