NHRC Stands with Nigerian Workers as Hardship Bites on Workers’ Day

As Nigeria joined the world to mark International Labour Day on May 1, 2025, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) threw its weight behind the nation’s workers, hailing their grit in the face of crushing economic woes. With inflation soaring and living costs strangling families, the NHRC’s call for better wages and conditions has struck a chord, spotlighting the desperate struggle of millions and the urgent need for change in a country where resilience is tested daily.

The NHRC, led by Executive Secretary Anthony Ojukwu, praised Nigerian workers as the backbone of national progress, enduring low pay, delayed salaries, and skyrocketing prices for basics like fuel and food. In a statement from Abuja, Ojukwu urged the government to prioritize fair wages and safe workplaces, warning that neglecting workers’ rights fuels poverty and unrest. His words come as Nigerians grapple with a 33.2% inflation rate, eroded purchasing power, and a N70,000 minimum wage that many states and private firms have yet to implement.

The economic strain is palpable. From Lagos to Kano, workers like bus drivers, teachers, and nurses shared tales of survival, with many moonlighting to afford rent or school fees. The NHRC’s statement echoed the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), which used Workers’ Day to demand full implementation of the new minimum wage and an end to policies that deepen hardship, like recent fuel price hikes. The FCT teachers’ strike over unpaid wages underscores the crisis, with N4.1 billion allegedly misappropriated by area council chairmen.

Ojukwu’s appeal also highlighted workplace safety, citing frequent factory accidents and unpaid pensions that leave retirees destitute. The NHRC vowed to push for stronger labor laws and hold employers accountable, a stance that resonates as DisCos face fines for overbilling and public trust in governance wanes. Workers’ Day events, from rallies in Abuja to marches in Ibadan, saw unions and citizens unite, their chants a raw cry for dignity and fairness.

This Workers’ Day, Nigeria’s laborers stand at a crossroads. The NHRC’s backing offers hope, but with economic storms raging, the question looms: will words turn into action, or will workers keep bearing the brunt of a broken system? For now, their sweat and struggle remain the pulse of a nation fighting to rise.