By Seyi Lasisi

Following persistent struggle and protest by Nigerian workers, the government was forced to raise the national minimum wage from the previous NGN 30,000 to NGN 70,000 per month, effective July 2024. The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024 came into force on July 29, 2024. As tiny as this victory may seem, it reflects the strength of a united workers’ movement committed to the struggle and burdens of Nigerian workers. It also underscores the importance of continuous agitation and demands for workers’ rights in every workplace across the country. Workers are the backbone of the Nigerian economy, and their earnings should reflect that. The struggle that led to this wage increase offers a significant lesson on the necessity and power of collective, unified action.

However, with inflation in Nigeria rising at an astronomical rate, the new minimum wage is already rendered inadequate. In real terms, it offers little to no relief to workers.

Nigeria’s healthcare system is in a state of crisis—underfunded, neglected, and systematically deteriorating. In the 2025 federal budget, ₦2.48 trillion—just 5.18% of the total budget—was allocated to the health sector. This includes funding for the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and infrastructural development. Despite these allocations, Nigeria still records some of the highest maternal and child mortality rates in the world. According to UNICEF, the maternal mortality rate stands at 576 per 100,000 live births—the fourth highest globally. Every year, around 262,000 babies die at birth—the second highest national total worldwide. Infant mortality is 69 per 1,000 live births, and under-five mortality rises to 128 per 1,000. The disparity in healthcare access, especially in rural areas, is glaring. Hospital infrastructure is outdated, equipment is nonfunctional, and conditions are deplorable.

A recent protest by medical students at the University of Ibadan—one of Nigeria’s premier institutions—over a 100-day blackout in their hostels, speaks volumes. The fact that future healthcare professionals are forced to live and study under such conditions reveals the government’s complete disregard for healthcare, and by extension, the wellbeing of Nigerian workers.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian ruling class has long used religion—and religious leaders—as a tool to maintain the status quo and suppress dissent. During the #EndBadGovernance protests, many religious figures openly discouraged protest, some even threatening protesters with divine consequences. In a country as conservative and religious as Nigeria, where citizens are often left to rely on spiritual solutions to socioeconomic problems, this manipulation is deeply harmful. Pastors, imams, and traditional priests have aligned themselves with the elite class, rarely—if ever—adopting the radical, justice-seeking spirit of the very religious icons they claim to follow.

As of the end of 2024, inflation in Nigeria surged to 33.2%—a near 30-year high. This staggering figure has devastated purchasing power, pushed millions deeper into poverty, and exacerbated economic hardship. While some companies—such as telecoms—have absorbed increased operational costs, their financial performance has taken a hit. But beyond corporate reports, a walk through the streets of Nigeria reveals the brutal human cost. For the average working-class Nigerian surviving on the minimum wage, the idea of a three-square meal is a mirage. Access to electricity—paid for through sweat and sacrifice—is a luxury. Children of working-class parents can neither afford quality education nor access basic healthcare. These are not abstract figures. These are the lived realities of Nigeria’s working class. And no—May Day therefore should not call for a celebration or a jamboree. It is a day of resistance. A day of unified struggle. A day of bold demands.

Historically, May Day—International Workers’ Day—was never meant to be festive. It is not a holiday to be marked by eating, drinking, and dancing. It is not for ceremonial match-pasts and coordinated uniforms. It is a politically charged day—a day when workers across the globe confront ruling elites with their demands. In Nigeria, it should be a day to directly challenge the Tinubu-led administration on its failed promises. It must be a day to call not just for a further increase in the minimum wage, but for dignity, justice, and accountability.