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Nigerian workers marked May Day with fanfare and frustration — celebrating resilience while demanding real solutions to the economic hardship gripping the economy
  • Workers gathered nationwide to celebrate Labour Day, despite worsening economic conditions.
  • Union leaders called for urgent action on wage increases and better working conditions.
  • Rising inflation, subsidy removal, and naira devaluation continue to erode workers’ earnings.
  • President Tinubu pledged to raise the minimum wage through a soon-to-be-signed bill.
  • Labour says promises won’t pay bills — they want timelines and implementation.
It was a bittersweet May Day for many Nigerians. The songs, parades, and colourful uniforms masked the pain of workers barely scraping by. For many, it’s not about celebration — it’s survival. With food prices skyrocketing and salaries staying the same, a pay raise feels less like a reward and more like a lifeline. Tinubu’s promise of a new minimum wage is welcome, but trust is fragile. People are tired of promises. The streets were festive, but the message was clear: Nigerians are working hard — it’s time the system worked for them too.


This May Day, workers danced — but they also demanded. The real question: will anyone at the top hear them?

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