Labour leaders in Ekiti State have lamented the economic hardship being experienced in the country, calling on the government at all levels to put measures in place to ameliorate the suffering of the workers.
Speaking on Thursday at an event organised to mark the 2025 May Day held at Ekiti Parapo Pavilion in Ado Ekiti, state Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC) Comrade Sola Adigun said the economic challenges are biting harder on the people than ever.
Adigun stated that the present minimum wage was not enough to meet the needs of workers with inflation at 33.2 percent as of March, 2025 as food inflation alone exceed 40 percent.
He added that the cost basic commodities have more than doubled in the past year.
“Meanwhile, the national minimum wage remains a paltry N70,000 even as full implementation of the new living wage is mired in delays and political wrangling in some states. In real terms, the value of the minimum wage has been eroded by over 60 percent due to inflation,” Adigun noted.
The TUC boss who also decried the increasing rate of unemployment and called on the government to respect and uphold the rights of Nigerian workers. “A democratic nation cannot thrive when its workers are pauperised, its unions are intimidated and its citizens are silenced.
“Today, we also renew our demand for the immediate and full implementation of a new national minimum wage that reflects the realities of 2025, and not 2019. It is unacceptable that as we celebrate May Day, many states have still not implemented the national minimum wage”.
Also speaking, his Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) counterpart, Comrade Kolapo Olarinde said efforts should be made to drive Nigeria economy towards appreciable productivity rather than consumable economy.
“It is an open secret that the present harsh economic realities confronting Nigerians today is as a result of rising cost in essential commodities, transportation, housing and basic services have rendered useless the purchasing power of Nigerian workers. It is painful that Nigerian workers are now living like slaves in their fatherland,” Olatunde said.
He, however, charged workers to continue working together and speak with one strong united voice in the pursuit of good governance and better society.
Addressing the workers, Governor Biodun Oyebanji who described the theme of this year’s Workers Day, “Reclaiming The Civic Space In The Midst of Economic Hardship” as apt, said it addresses the current economic challenges and the need for all stakeholders to jointly ruminate on the best options to rescue the economy.
“I urge you to note that this is a period for dialogue, synergy, mutual understanding in proffering solutions to perennial economic crisis and accountability in governance.
“I urge workers as major stakeholders to come forth with ideas, constructive opinions and strategies to transform the economy for the greater benefit of the citizens. Let me assure you that on our part, all hands would continue to be on deck to explore better avenues that would make lives convenient for our people.
“As we face the economic realities of our time, let us engage in constructive dialogue, eschew disharmony and rancour. Ekiti must not be left behind in the scheme of things,” the governor said.
He saluted the industrious contributions of Ekiti workers, both in public and private sectors for keeping the state moving and for creating the expanding Ekiti economy through their hard work.
“Ekiti workers are the pride of our State and our greatest assets. Your resilience, loyalty and unwavering commitment, even in the face of challenges, inspire us daily.
“As the engine of government, workers have contributed significantly to the development of this State since its creation. More importantly, we cannot forget your personal sacrifices and patriotic contributions,” Oyebanji noted.
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