The Nigeria Labour Congress has delivered a scathing indictment of Nigeria’s worsening economic and security situation, declaring that workers and the poor are “bleeding” under the weight of government policies and rising insecurity.
In a strongly worded Eid-el-Kabir message issued on Wednesday, the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, accused the government of implementing neoliberal reforms that have plunged millions of Nigerians deeper into poverty and hardship.
Ajaero’s message comes amid mounting public anger over the economic consequences of reforms introduced by the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including the removal of petrol subsidies and the liberalisation of the foreign exchange market.
While international financial institutions have praised the reforms as necessary steps toward stabilising Nigeria’s economy, ordinary Nigerians continue to grapple with soaring inflation, skyrocketing transport fares, rising food prices, and shrinking household incomes.
“The working class and the poor majority are bleeding under the weight of neoliberal policies,” the labour leader declared.
According to the NLC, governance in Nigeria has become increasingly disconnected from the realities facing citizens, with policies prioritising profits over people’s welfare.
The union insisted that government must refocus on protecting lives and ensuring access to essential needs such as food, healthcare, shelter, education, and decent employment opportunities.
“As we mark Eid-el-Kabir, a festival of sacrifice and obedience, this celebration should compel leaders to reflect deeply on the suffering in the land,” the statement noted.
The labour body also raised alarm over the worsening insecurity across the country, describing the persistent wave of kidnappings, banditry, communal clashes, and urban violence as evidence of systemic governance failure.
“The worsening insecurity that now threatens the existence of our nation — from banditry to kidnapping, from herdsmen bloodshed to urban violence — is a direct indictment of our governance model,” the NLC stated.
The union further accused political leaders of demanding sacrifices from ordinary Nigerians while failing to demonstrate prudence and restraint in public spending.
“This season demands that our leaders search themselves and commit to building a Nigeria that works for the majority and not just for a privileged few occupying high public offices,” the statement added.
Beyond the Eid message, the NLC signalled what observers see as an increasingly political posture ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The congress warned that Nigerian workers, unemployed youths, traders, and vulnerable citizens would remember “promises not kept, the brutalisation of peaceful protesters, and the deliberate impoverishment of workers disguised as difficult policy choices.”
In what appears to be a veiled mobilisation call ahead of future elections, the labour union urged Nigerians to use the Eid period not only for prayers and celebrations but also for “political education, grassroots organising, and the building of a united front of the oppressed.”
“We are entering a phase where every vote must become a weapon against hunger, insecurity, and exploitation,” the NLC declared.
ADVERTISEMENTS
2026-05-25