The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the government to take immediate action to alleviate the economic struggles faced by Nigerian workers.
In an Easter message, the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, emphasised the need for leaders to prioritise people-oriented governance and selfless service.
The labour movement highlighted the stark contrast between the symbolism of Easter and the harsh realities experienced by workers. “The sacrifices demanded of Nigerian workers today are ones we never consented to,” the NLC said. “The sacrifice of our wages on the altar of profiteering, the sacrifice of our safety on the altar of insecurity, and the sacrifice of our very lives on the altar of missed opportunities to govern effectively.”
The NLC pointed out that rising transportation costs, electricity shortages, and insecurity are crippling workers’ livelihoods and eroding their wages. The union is demanding that the government restore efficient public transportation, resolve the power crisis, and improve security nationwide.
“We demand that our government use its power to break the choke hold that poverty, exploitation, insecurity and infrastructure collapse have on our people,” Ajaero said. “We demand a more humane and responsive governance anchored on the people.”
The labour leaders warned against policies that favour a small elite at the expense of the majority, stressing that governance must be fair and inclusive. They also urged the government to respect workers’ rights and avoid suppressing dissent.
“The use of state power to suppress workers’ rights, to silence dissent, or to impose austerity that benefits a tiny elite while crushing the majority is a betrayal of the very essence of leadership,” the NLC said.
The congress vowed to continue advocating for workers’ rights and holding leaders accountable.
