General
Workers’ Day: NLC Decries Deteriorating Standard of Living of Nigerian Workers
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has outlined demands to the federal government while expressing deep concerns over the deteriorating economic conditions of workers as the world marks the International Workers’ Day (May 1).
NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, said Nigerian workers are groaning because of poor pay as a result of the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu as well as growing insecurity and political interference in labour affairs across the country.
Mr Ajaero described the current state of the Nigerian economy as hostile to workers, noting that the removal of fuel subsidy, Naira devaluation and rising inflation have plunged millions of households into deeper poverty.
He maintained that the current economic trajectory has eroded the value of wages, rendering workers helpless and unable to meet basic needs.
“It is clear that the policies of the government, particularly the ill-timed and unstructured removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the Naira, have pushed Nigerian workers and their families to the brink,” he said.
The NLC president reiterated the labour union’s position on the new minimum wage, stating that N70, 000 is the barest minimum that workers can accept under the current economic conditions. He argued that the amount, though still insufficient considering the skyrocketing cost of living, could serve as a starting point for negotiation.
He lamented the increasing hunger facing workers in the country, “We are hungry,” he said, adding that, “The minimum wage cannot buy a bag of rice. If you are sincere and you go to work every day, 20 days, your salary is gone on transportation.
“We are not asking for luxury. We are simply demanding a wage that allows a worker to live a dignified life, pay rent, feed their families, send their children to school, and transport themselves to work.”
He said that even this figure would need to be adjusted periodically to keep pace with inflation and market forces.
“If the government can effectively implement some of the measures they have put in place -such as the N70, 000 minimum wage, the CNG transport system, and the students’ loan- then one can say that the renewed hope idea is working. I think the foundation has been laid, but we need the real implementation of these,” he stated.
On energy and transport, he criticised the government’s failure to deliver on the promised palliatives to cushion the effect of subsidy removal. He cited the delay in rolling out Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) infrastructure and vehicles, which was supposed to provide affordable alternatives to petrol-powered transportation.
“They promised us CNG buses. Where are they? They promised wage awards. Many states have not implemented anything. The promises made last year have remained largely on paper,” he said.
He called on the Federal Government to accelerate the implementation of energy reforms, especially in the transportation sector, to alleviate the burden on workers who spend a significant portion of their income on transportation.
Mr Ajaero also raised concerns over the inconsistencies in salary payments and implementation of wage awards across various states and federal agencies.
He noted that many state governments have either failed to implement the approved wage increases or are paying workers below the agreed minimum wage, thereby violating labour agreements.
He pointed out that the disparities in the federal and state public service salary structures were unacceptable and called for immediate harmonisation, including a review of salary step progression and grade levels to ensure equity.
The NLC president further urged the government to reform the country’s tax regime, which he said unfairly targets the poor while allowing multinational corporations and political elite to evade taxes.
“It is only in Nigeria that someone earning N50, 000 a month is taxed heavily while the real billionaires are not paying their fair share. This system must change,” he said.
Additionally, the labour leader condemned the growing state of insecurity in many parts of the country, which he said not only affects productivity but, also, endangers the lives of workers, especially those in rural communities and high-risk professions.
He also criticised the decay in the health and education sectors, lamenting that many workers can no longer afford basic healthcare or quality education for their children. Turning to internal challenges within the labour movement, he decried the increasing political interference in union activities, particularly in Rivers and Edo states.
He accused state governors of undermining the autonomy of the trade unions, suppressing workers’ voices, and in some cases, promoting parallel union leadership to create division.
“In Rivers State, we are witnessing a complete breakdown of labour-government relations. Retirees are not being paid, union meetings are disrupted, and workers’ rights are trampled upon. In Edo, we are dealing with a crisis of leadership instigated by the state government,” he alleged.
He urged the federal government to call erring state governors to order and protect the rights of workers as enshrined in the Constitution to prevent the escalation of events in those states. He further stated the status of no May Day celebrations in the states still stands. He challenged the government to prioritise social services in its spending plans and cut waste in governance.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Ministry of Interior has announced the launch of a new online citizenship and business management platform.
In a statement by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs Magdalene Ajani, on Friday in Abuja, it was disclosed that the new digital platform was designed to streamline the application and processing of citizenship and business-related services, ensuring faster turnaround time and improved user experience.
According to the statement, the platform is aimed at managing citizenship applications, processing business permits, and administering regulations related to businesses, and foreign workers.
The permanent secretary explained further that the initiative was part of the ministry’s ongoing reforms aimed at promoting transparency, enhancing operational efficiency thereby significantly improving service delivery to the public.
Members of the public, corporate entities, and other stakeholders are hereby expected to access the platform through the following official channels: Ministry of Interior’s website: https://interior.gov.ng and for direct portal access: https://candb.interior.gov.ng, [email protected] for support or inquiries.
“The ministry remains committed to establishing a more efficient, transparent, and secure framework for citizenship administration, while continuously enhancing service delivery through digital transformation,” the statement concluded.
By Bon Peters
A leading petrochemicals and fertilizer production company in Rivers State, Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited, has reaffirmed its determination to always prioritise environmental preservation, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and other policies geared towards profitability.
The Managing Director of Indorama Nigeria and Executive Director at Indorama Africa, Mr Manish Mundra, gave this reassurance at a media parley to introduce the new Head of Corporate Communications of the organisation, Mr Bibiye Justice.
Mr Justice is taking over from Mr Jossy Nkwocha, who retires from the company from the end of May 2025 after 18 years in charge of the image-making of the company.
Mr Mundra, represented by the Chief Technical Officer of Indorama Nigeria, Mr Deepu Sivadas, praised Mr Nkwocha for demonstrating a high level of professionalism in his partnership with journalists, saying the synergy has positioned Indorama in the right perspective in terms of reportage of the company’s operations.
In his remarks, Mr Nkwocha commended the management of Indorama for giving him the opportunity to serve in the company and thanked journalists for their support.
“I have enjoyed tremendous support of journalists in the state in the past 18 years, and for this reason, I haven’t experienced any media crises.
“I want to thank you all for your cooperation and to announce that I’m about stepping down, by the end of this month, I shall be retiring and Mr Justice Bibiye will be stepping in my shoes.
“Bibiye is one of us, a thorough bred corporate communications personality, having served at NTA and AIT. I, therefore, urge you to avail him the same level of support,” he said.
On his part, Mr Justice commended newsmen for supporting his predecessor and contributing to the growth of the company.
“Indorama is critical national asset contributing significantly to the economy. The company is continuously creating jobs and assisting the government tackle food shortage through high quality fertilizers production for export and local demands,” he said.
The chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Rivers State, Mr Paul Bazia, while speaking, lauded the organisation for its achievements and pledged to sustain the cooperation.
Indorama, an 8,000 metric tons daily capacity fertilizer production company, is the largest single-train urea facility in the Sub-Saharan Africa with a legacy of excellence in fertilizer production.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has called for calm over a viral video showing some young persons from Katsina State seen around Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State.
In a statement on Friday, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Mr Benjamin Hundeyin, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), said residents of the metropolis have nothing to worry about because the persons seen in the visual were recruited to work at the Dangote Refinery.
According to him, the contractor responsible for their recruitment and the refinery’s Chief Security Officer (CSO) both confirmed the arrangement.
He stated that the labourers have been cleared to reside and work within the $20 billion oil facility after all necessary checks were conducted them.
“Upon receipt of the information on May 14, 2025, officers from the Command immediately deployed to the location to ascertain the facts.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the young men in question, 89 in number, had arrived from Katsina State and were recruited to work as labourers at the Dangote Refinery in Lekki.
“The contractor working with the refinery appeared before the police and confirmed that he had personally sourced and brought the labourers from Katsina for legitimate employment purposes.
“The individuals were thoroughly searched, and no incriminating items were found in their possession.
“Furthermore, each person properly identified themselves and presented their National Identification Numbers (NINs), which were duly verified,” Mr Hundeyin stated, assuring that, “The command remains committed to maintaining law and order across Lagos State and will continue to respond promptly to all matters relating to public safety.”
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