On May 1, 2025, Nigerian workers marked International Workers’ Day with nationwide rallies, as labour leaders declared workers “worse off than ever” under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, citing skyrocketing inflation, stagnant wages, and policy failures.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), representing 7 million workers, led protests in Abuja and Lagos, demanding a N200,000 minimum wage and relief measures, per BBC and The Guardian. Inflation, at 33.2% in March 2025, and a 300% fuel price hike since 2023 have slashed real incomes, per the National Bureau of Statistics.
NLC President Joe Ajaero, addressing 15,000 workers at Eagle Square, accused Tinubu of prioritizing reforms over workers’ welfare, noting that the N70,000 minimum wage, implemented in July 2024, buys 30% less than its 2019 equivalent, per World Bank data. Food inflation, at 40%, has left 80% of households food-insecure, per UNICEF. The TUC highlighted the 223% electricity tariff hike, adding N10,000 to monthly bills, and the naira’s fall to N1,600/$1, which doubled import costs, per the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. Ajaero warned of a nationwide strike by June if demands are unmet, per Al Jazeera.
Tinubu, in a televised address, defended his reforms, including the $10 billion Dangote Refinery project to boost local fuel supply by Q3 2025, and urged workers to “endure” for long-term gains, per BBC. However, labour leaders rejected this, pointing to 13.5% unemployment and 20 million out-of-school children, per UNESCO. In Lagos, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu promised state-level palliatives, but workers booed, citing unpaid wage arrears in 10 states, per The Guardian. The protests, peaceful with heavy security, saw no reported clashes.
Nigeria’s economic woes, tied to global oil volatility and 60% import reliance, have fueled unrest, with the IMF projecting 3.2% GDP growth in 2025 but warning of social risks. The NLC’s 2024 strike, which halted aviation and banking, underscores labour’s influence, per historical data. Workers’ demands for subsidized transport and tax exemptions reflect desperation in a nation where 63% live below the poverty line, per World Bank. May Day 2025 highlighted a growing divide, with labour vowing to escalate action unless Tinubu addresses their plight.