May Day 2026: NLC, TUC Threaten Nationwide Shutdown Over Insecurity

Labour Union

May Day 2026: NLC, TUC Threaten Nationwide Shutdown Over Insecurity

Nigeria’s organised labour has issued a strong warning to the Federal Government, declaring that the country is approaching a dangerous breaking point amid worsening insecurity, deepening poverty and rising economic hardship.

At the 2026 May Day celebration held at Eagle Square in Abuja, leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) accused the government of failing to protect workers and ordinary citizens from hunger, violence and economic distress.

In a joint address delivered by NLC President Joe Ajaero and TUC President Festus Osifo, organised labour warned that Nigerian workers could soon be directed to stay at home nationwide if insecurity continues unchecked.

“Nigerian workers may no longer continue going to work with this level of insecurity,” the labour leaders declared.

“We may be forced to advise our members across the country to stay at home to avoid being kidnapped, abducted or killed.”

The warning formed part of a sweeping criticism of the state of the nation, covering the economy, insecurity, governance, corruption, electricity supply and workers’ welfare.

The unions said Nigerian workers remain the backbone of the economy despite facing worsening living conditions and declining purchasing power.

“Workers remain at the very heart of every industry, every economy, and every success story known to humanity. Without workers, no wheel can turn; without workers, no nation can be built,” the labour leaders said.

READ ALSO:

However, they lamented that workers continue to create wealth while struggling to survive under rising inflation, expensive transportation, high food prices and poor wages.

According to the unions, many Nigerians now work tirelessly yet cannot afford basic necessities such as food, rent, healthcare and education.

They described the current economic situation as one where workers are “exhausted yet unbroken” despite mounting hardship across the country.

Organised labour also dismissed repeated claims by the Federal Government that Nigeria’s economy is improving under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

According to the unions, official economic statistics do not reflect the reality faced daily by ordinary Nigerians.

“We are told that GDP growth may reach about 3.6 per cent, yet poverty continues to rise,” the labour leaders said.

“We hear official inflation figures, but these numbers do not reflect the reality experienced daily by workers.”

The NLC and TUC argued that government reforms are benefiting only a small elite while millions of Nigerians continue to struggle.

“An economy that serves only the top one per cent while leaving the 99 per cent behind cannot be sustainable,” they stated.

“Perhaps, it is working for the ultra-few one per cent and not the 99 per cent majority.”

The unions maintained that the removal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira have intensified hardship nationwide, pushing more Nigerians into poverty.

The labour leaders claimed that nearly 65 per cent of Nigerians now live in poverty, while thousands are being pushed deeper into hardship daily due to inflation and unemployment.

According to them, worsening insecurity has displaced farming communities, worsened food shortages and increased hunger across the country.

The unions also raised concerns over deteriorating conditions in internally displaced persons camps.

“In these camps and communities, diseases such as Kwashiorkor, Craw-craw and Marasmus are re-emerging,” they said.

They described the situation as evidence of a nation under severe social and economic pressure.

The NLC and TUC announced that discussions for a new national minimum wage would begin in July 2026.

The unions said the process would commence early to avoid delays experienced during previous wage negotiations.

But beyond future talks, labour demanded urgent intervention measures to ease economic hardship.

“We demand that from July this year, every worker be paid 100 per cent of his basic salary to cushion the effects of the renewed crisis of survival,” the labour leaders stated.

“We demand a living wage, not a minimum wage.”

On insecurity, organised labour declared that Nigeria is effectively in a state of war due to widespread killings, kidnappings and terrorist attacks.

“The scale of violence, the frequency of attacks, and the mounting loss of lives place Nigeria among the most dangerous places to live on earth,” the unions said.

“It is not isolated violence. It is a war against our people.”

The labour leaders cited attacks across several states, including terrorism, banditry and communal clashes, warning that workers increasingly feel unsafe travelling to offices and workplaces.

“People are no longer safe in their homes, on the roads, or even in their workplaces. Daily life has become a gamble with fate,” they lamented.

The unions also criticised the electricity and petroleum sectors, accusing successive governments of failing to deliver meaningful reforms despite huge public spending.

“Over a decade after privatisation, Nigerians have little to show but deepening darkness,” they said of the power sector.

According to labour, millions of Nigerians continue to face unstable electricity supply despite trillions spent on interventions and rising electricity tariffs.

“What was promised as reform has become a burden,” they added.

On fuel pricing, the unions criticised the situation where an oil-producing country continues to battle recurring petrol price hikes and economic pain.

“The contradiction is stark and disheartening,” the labour leaders stated.

The labour movement also accused political leaders of being disconnected from the realities faced by ordinary Nigerians.

“When leaders seek better education abroad for their children while neglecting domestic schools, it raises fundamental questions about commitment,” they said.

The unions further described corruption and illicit financial flows as major threats to Nigeria’s future.

“This is not mere corruption; it is a system — one that bleeds the nation continuously,” they declared.

As part of efforts to address corruption and waste, organised labour launched a nationwide advocacy campaign tagged: “Stop the Bleeding. Every stolen naira is a stolen future.”

Despite their criticism, the NLC and TUC said they remain committed to democratic engagement but warned that patience among Nigerian workers is wearing thin as hardship and insecurity continue to worsen nationwide.