Organised labour has underscored the need for policy change to address the current economic hardship in the country.
At the 2025 Pre-May Day Symposium, organised by the Lagos State Councils of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), labour leaders said the ongoing reforms have further impoverished vulnerable segments of society, depriving them of the ability to withstand the harsh economic realities.
Speaking on the theme: ‘Reclaiming the Civic Space amid Economic Hardship,’ Guest Speaker and former TUC National Deputy President, Oyinkan Olasanoye, dismissed wage increases as a viable solution to the current crisis, warning that inflation has outpaced any potential benefit.
Noting that the theme was chosen to reflect the dire conditions facing Nigerian workers, she said it also underscored the importance of civic space in safeguarding workers’ rights and advancing advocacy efforts.
“We need empowerment through collective action. We need to reclaim our civic space to enable us to exercise fundamental civic rights.
“We need to work with members and stakeholders to advocate for policy challenges that address economic hardship, provide training for members for upskilling to retain their jobs and better payment,” she said.
Olasanoye urged the government to focus more on providing basic infrastructure such as housing, healthcare, and transportation, rather than relying solely on salary reviews.
“Having more money does not translate to quality of life; rather, there should be a focus on the purchasing power of the naira. In other words, it is not the volume of money in one’s hands that matters, but what the money can buy,” she said.
Chairman, TUC, Lagos Council, Gbenga Ekundayo, noted that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) attempts to control inflation by mopping up excess liquidity have not yielded the desired results, as economic inequalities continue to deepen.
According to him, much more money is now being controlled by the rich, and the plight of the poor continues to worsen.
He said it was fundamental that workers reclaim their civic space and regain their voices to collectively demand what is right so that there is access to governance.
“The challenges of the reforms are very profound, even for the rich. So, it is something that cuts across everybody. But, as I said, it is easier for the rich, in most cases, to absorb these shocks than the poor. The reforms on the economy, by their nature, impact more on the poor than the rich. Government should find a way to close the gap,” he said.
Chairperson, NLC, Lagos Council, Funmi Sessi, decried the worsening conditions faced by workers, noting that hunger now ravages millions, while insecurity continues to escalate.
