…however, the NLC said this year’s event must also serve as a protest against what it described as violations of workers’ rights.
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times| The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed workers in states yet to fully implement the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act to mark May Day 2026 with street processions, suspending all indoor or official celebrations.
The directive follows continued concerns over the implementation of the new minimum wage, which was signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on July 29, 2024, raising the national minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000.
May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, is observed globally on May 1 to celebrate workers and the labour movement. However, the NLC said this year’s event must also serve as a protest against what it described as violations of workers’ rights in several states.
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, the union accused some state governments of failing to implement key provisions of the law, including consequential salary adjustments, timely payment of the new wage, and its extension to local government workers, teachers, and healthcare personnel.
The NLC described the situation as a breach of the law and an affront to the dignity of Nigerian workers.
According to the directive, no May Day celebrations are to be held in government houses, banquet halls, or any indoor venues in defaulting states. Instead, workers are to gather at labour houses, union secretariats, or public squares by 7:00 a.m. and embark on peaceful marches across state capitals.
Each state council is expected to map out protest routes terminating at key government institutions such as the State Government House, State House of Assembly, or the office of the Head of Service, where formal demands will be submitted.
The union warned that the directive is mandatory, adding that any state council leader who fails to comply or opts for passive celebrations will face disciplinary action.
“Comrades, the 2024 Minimum Wage Act did not come through supplication. It came through struggle. To celebrate May Day indoors while our rights are trampled upon is to betray that legacy. Let us therefore return to the streets!” the statement read.
Despite the wage increase, dissatisfaction remains widespread among workers, who argue that the ₦70,000 minimum wage has been eroded by rising inflation and high living costs. Many say it is insufficient to meet basic needs, including housing, food, and education.
The NLC has continued to push for a review of the wage structure, proposing a new minimum of ₦154,000 in March 2026, alongside a 120 percent salary adjustment to reflect current economic realities.
