Tinubu called insecurity and poverty national emergencies as NLC demanded a new minimum wage of N225,000 for workers.
Insecurity and poverty were framed as direct threats to decent work on Workers’ Day, as President Bola Tinubu warned that fear and hardship are undermining jobs and stability across Nigeria.
Tinubu delivered the message at the 2026 International Workers’ Day celebration in Abuja, where the theme “Insecurity and Poverty: Bane of Decent Work” set the tone for an event focused on labour, livelihoods, and the cost of survival.. Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, the President said meaningful employment and economic growth cannot thrive when insecurity disrupts daily economic activity and wages cannot sustain families.
The point was clear: labour cannot be discussed only in terms of policy documents, because insecurity and poverty shape whether people can work at all.
Describing the twin challenges as “hydra-headed,” Tinubu said government is treating them with urgency due to their wide impact on confidence and livelihoods.. He also linked progress on decent work to the Decent Work Agenda and said his administration is pursuing coordinated strategies to address the problems.
As part of his Renewed Hope Agenda, Tinubu pointed to the Community Protection Guards Initiative, which he said recruited thousands of young Nigerians, combining local security support with employment opportunities.. He further referenced expanded social investment programmes, welfare reforms linked to workers, and efforts to bring parts of the informal sector into pension coverage, alongside financing for small businesses.
This matters because labour Day messaging is not just symbolic; when wages, pensions, and security are treated as connected issues, workers’ confidence in the economy can change.
Tinubu also urged industrial harmony, calling for dialogue over strikes and stressing that work stoppages should be a last resort. He commended security personnel and noted agricultural measures aimed at protecting farmers and livelihoods.
Meanwhile, organised labour used the occasion to press for a major wage review. In particular, the Nigeria Labour Congress in Lagos demanded an increase in the state minimum wage from N85,000 to N225,000, arguing that rising inflation and living costs have made the current level inadequate.
Late in the day, the political undertone of Workers’ Day was also visible in how parties and unions spoke to governance.. For example, calls were made for workers to translate their voting power into outcomes that protect living wages and reduce hardship, underscoring that the day’s demands extend beyond the workplace into elections.
Beyond the speeches and campaigns, the message at Workers’ Day echoed the same urgency across the country: unless insecurity eases and poverty is addressed, the promise of decent work will keep slipping out of reach.