International Workers’ Day was observed in Nigeria amidst harsh criticism from the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), who lamented the challenging living conditions faced by Nigerians under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Benson Upah, the Head of Information and Public Affairs at NLC, and TUC President Festus Osifo expressed concerns over the economic hardships endured by workers and citizens, attributing it to high inflation, foreign exchange crises, food inflation, and energy shortages.
Upah emphasized that the situation has significantly deteriorated under Tinubu’s leadership.
He pointed to policies such as fuel subsidy removal, ongoing Naira crises in the foreign exchange market, and increased electricity tariffs as exacerbating the economic challenges for Nigerians and workers.
The NLC spokesperson urged President Tinubu to reconsider some of these policies in order to improve the lives of Nigerian workers.
“The past year has been incredibly difficult for workers. Unfortunately, there seems to be no relief in sight. Just as workers were adjusting to these harsh conditions, the government imposed a 250% increase in energy tariffs, further worsening the situation without any reprieve for workers,” remarked Upah.
He continued, “The series of ill-conceived policies including fuel subsidy removal, Naira devaluation, and electricity tariff hikes have significantly devalued the Naira. Currently, inflation rates stand at 33.2%, with food inflation topping 40%. These policies seem to be influenced from external sources and are not in the best interest of the nation. We implore the President to reassess these decisions.”
Regarding the May Day celebrations, TUC President Osifo, speaking at the Pre-May Day Lecture in Abuja, called on both federal and state governments to prioritize the welfare of workers.
Represented by the TUC Deputy President, Comrade Eitm Okon, Osifo stressed the importance of the theme for the 2024 May Day celebration, “Workers First,” asserting the need to prioritize the welfare and interests of the people in government policies.
Osifo highlighted the need to refocus policies to benefit the people, stating, “We have witnessed policy inconsistencies where the welfare of the people takes a back seat. An example is the sudden electricity tariff hike without proper consultations with stakeholders, which impacts the lives of workers.”