May 1st is a day set aside to celebrate workers worldwide. Globally, it is recognised as International Labour Day. In 1980, it was first recognised and accepted as a public holiday in Nigeria by the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) of Kano State. In 1981, it officially became a national holiday all over Nigeria. Historically, the origin of May 1st as Workers’ Day is traced to 1886 in Chicago, USA, when workers protested for an eight-hour workday.
The protests were in the form of strikes, public demonstrations, open speeches, peaceful processions by workers and many acts of public display. Gradually, the day gained recognition worldwide, and today, it is celebrated in all parts of the world as Labour Day or Workers’ Day. In Nigeria, it is marked as a public holiday when workers engage in public peaceful processions in all the states of the country with speeches which highlight the plight of Nigerian workers.
Indeed, there are many challenges facing the Nigerian worker. The minimum wage at the federal level has not been implemented. Therefore, the Nigerian worker is mired in the cesspool of inflation with a take-home pay that can barely afford a decent living. At the state level, some states have implemented the minimum wage while some states are yet to implement it. At a time when the local currency, the naira, has collapsed compared to other major currencies of the world, it is difficult for the Nigerian worker to survive on a salary that can hardly afford a decent living.
While many workers in the world are motivated to strive for the actualisation of their potential, Nigerian workers are engaged in a macabre dance of survival, which ultimately stifles their potential, output, and productivity.
Given the strait condition of the Nigerian economy, made worse by government economic policies, it is not in contention that workers in Nigeria are facing the worst challenges in the history of the country.
In a desperate bid for survival, many workers have had to combine their jobs with extra jobs to earn more money as a response to the economic hardship in the country. Also, most workers do their normal jobs during the day and odd jobs after closing hours, which stretches into the night. With the increment in transport fares following the removal of fuel subsidies, the corollary inflation resulting in high cost of living and increase in the prices of food items and other essential commodities, Nigerian workers are facing difficult times with meagre salaries.
We use this occasion to urge the labour leaders to continue to fight for the rights of Nigerian workers despite all odds. They should not rest until victory is achieved. Therefore, the current May Day celebration should afford them the opportunity to bring to the attention of the federal and state governments the plight of Nigerian workers. At the same time, we call on the federal and state governments to start implementing the new minimum wage.
We believe that the implementation of the new wage will help ameliorate the plight of Nigerian workers. All tiers of government must prioritize the welfare of the citizens, including the workers. We urge those in the private sector to make plans to implement the new minimum wage so that the workers in the private sector can also smile.
Many families depend on the income of fathers and mothers as civil servants to survive. When the monthly take-home pay is inadequate, it poses an existential problem for the families, which could spiral into other undesirable conditions in the society.
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate Workers’ Day, all the stakeholders, the government at all levels, and corporate entities should look inwards and address the problems and challenges of the Nigerian worker. If workers are expected to perform optimally at all levels, it follows that they should also be remunerated adequately.
Also, the Nigeria Labour Congress should do enough to protect the interests of the Nigerian workers. A healthy workforce is the soul and heartbeat of any nation. Nigerian workers are cast in the same mould. They deserve better living conditions, improved wages, and better conditions of service. We wish all Nigerian workers a Happy Workers’ Day.