NLC and TUC have warned that Nigeria is near breaking point and threatened a nationwide worker shutdown over insecurity.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that Nigeria’s organised labour on Thursday issued one of its strongest warnings in recent years, declaring that the country is sliding toward a dangerous crisis marked by deepening poverty, economic hardship, and worsening insecurity.
At the 2026 May Day celebration held at Eagle Square in Abuja, leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, Joe Ajaero and Festus Osifo, delivered a fiery joint address accusing political leaders of failing ordinary Nigerians and presiding over a collapsing social contract.
The labour leaders warned that workers could soon be directed to stay home nationwide if insecurity across the country continues unchecked.
Describing the current situation as unsustainable, the unions said Nigerian workers remain the backbone of the economy but continue to suffer under rising poverty and harsh economic conditions.
“Workers remain at the heart of every industry and every economy, yet those who create wealth receive only a fraction of it,” the unions declared.
The labour centres criticised what they described as “paper economic growth,” arguing that official figures on GDP growth and inflation do not reflect the harsh realities faced daily by citizens.
According to them, economic reforms have benefited only a small elite while millions of Nigerians continue to struggle with rising living costs, unemployment, and hunger.
The unions painted a grim picture of worsening poverty, claiming that nearly 65 per cent of Nigerians now live below the poverty line, while thousands fall into poverty daily.
They also raised alarm over deteriorating humanitarian conditions in displaced persons camps, warning that diseases linked to extreme poverty are resurfacing in several affected communities.
On workers’ welfare, labour announced that negotiations for a new national minimum wage would commence in July 2026, while demanding immediate measures to cushion economic hardship.
“We demand a living wage, not just a minimum wage,” the unions said.
In one of the most dramatic moments of the speech, organised labour declared that Nigeria is effectively “at war,” citing widespread killings, kidnappings, bombings, and violent attacks across several parts of the country.
“The scale of violence and mounting loss of lives place Nigeria among the most dangerous places to live,” they warned.
The labour leaders stressed that workers can no longer continue risking their lives daily just to earn a living.
“Nigerian workers may no longer continue going to work with this level of insecurity. We may be forced to advise our members to stay at home to avoid being kidnapped or killed,” they stated.
The unions also criticised the electricity and petroleum sectors, describing years of reforms and privatisation as failures that have only increased hardship for citizens.
“Despite trillions spent, Nigerians still face darkness and rising energy costs,” they said.
On governance, labour accused political leaders of disconnecting themselves from the realities faced by ordinary citizens, warning that democratic institutions and accountability structures are weakening.
They further condemned corruption and illicit financial flows, describing them as systems that continue to “bleed the nation.”
As the 2027 general elections approach, the labour unions vowed to play a more active political role, warning politicians not to take workers for granted.
“2027 will be different. No more will we be voting fodder,” the unions declared.
Ending their address on a defiant note, labour leaders urged Nigerian workers to unite and demand change, insisting that the country can still be rescued through collective action and accountability.
