Prioritising workers’ welfare via people- oriented policies

While workers are still basking in the euphoria of May Day, they have emphasised the importance of putting people first, stressing that governance must prioritise the well- being of citizens through fair wages, safe working conditions and social protectio

ACROSS the country, Nigerian workers advocated inclusivity and justice, stating that their success as a nation hinges on policies that uplift and empower every individual.

They called on the need to bridge the gap between the governed and the government.

While they demanded a better Nigeria, they maintained that the correlation between workers’ welfare and national productivity was undeniable.

Speaking, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC), Joe Ajaero and the Trade Union of Congress of Nigeria ( TUC), Festus Osifo, said the day recognises the struggles of workers for better workplaces as they have become precursors to the creation of a more inclusive and sustainable globe. They described that the day symbolises the dynamics of the struggle by working people all over the world to ensure that the world of work remains a place of freedom which guarantees that societies are humane and fair to all.

However, in Nigeria, they lamented that workers and the trade union movement face escalating pressures, both locally and globally.

They lamented that social partners increasingly pose threats to their survival, endangering the very essence of their existence. According to them, as jobs vanish, work conditions deteriorate, and inequality festers in workplaces and also while decent work deficits increase, the efficacy of trade unions is severely compromised.

Worried that the instruments of reasonable and civil engagements for resolving social differences are deliberately scuttled, they urged that they must forge a cohesive movement capable of safeguarding their interests while staying relevant to Nigerian workers amidst the escalating challenges and impunity in the nation’s industrial landscape.

According to them, all workers must rise from the celebrations today more determined than ever before to build a trade union movement that will continue to walk within the philosophies and traditions that propelled it into existence.

Noting that the minimum wage struggle serves as a poignant reminder of the resistance faced by workers and the obstacles deliberately placed by the government, they assured they were already working together in every facet of the national minimum wage fixing process to ensure that better results are achieved which will not only speak to the welfare of Nigerian workers but would also assist in driving business activities around the nation.

On the state of the nation, the unionists stressed that the nation is facing challenges, with centrifugal forces tightening their grip and citizens increasingly disillusioned with leadership. This disconnect, they lamented has eroded civic ownership of governance, fueling calls for a more efficient and responsive system. According to them, agitations for restructuring, like the Yoruba nation, IPOB, and Arewa elders’ discontent, reflect widespread frustration.

Stating that nepotism and disregard for constitutional principles exacerbate the problem, they urged that workers must unite to address these challenges, rather than relying on propaganda. It’s time for genuine dialogue and restructuring to serve the majority. On workers in the informal economy, despite that the sector thrives with 75 per cent women and 61 per cent men dominated workforce contributing to economic activities, Ajaero and Osifo the informal economy operates on the fringes of legality, leaving workers vulnerable to exploitation.

They stated that government actions often exacerbate their plight, focusing on revenue generation rather than addressing basic needs.

They said that addressing the informal economy was vital for inclusive growth. According to them, policies must formalise enterprises, granting legal recognition and access to services.

“Gender- specific interventions are crucial to combat challenges faced by women. Empowering this workforce will unleash economic potential, fostering a more equitable future. We urge all levels of government to immediately address the over- taxation of informal workers. The drive for revenue should not burden those already exploited,” they said. Similarly, in Lagos, the state’s Council Chairperson of NLC, Funmi Sessi and TUC counterpart, Gbenga Ekundayo, while commended Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu on championing workers’ welfare, urged him to address the challenges of land racketeering, transportation, food security and effective palliative distribution in the state.

Sessi said while Sanwo- Olu has been consistent in the distribution of food palliatives to vulnerable homes through Eko Cares, she said the palliatives and temporary increase in worker’s salaries are not enough as the inflation keeps biting and rendering the idea defeated.

According to her, workers need more proactive permanent measures to address the root of the problem.