Labour Day in Nigeria: Reflections on the State of Labour and the Path Forward

The celebration of labour day, also known as the May Day celebration in Nigeria since 1981, is an official public holiday and is enmeshed today in both the political life and association of workers, the NLC(Nigerian Labour Congress). Not forgetting “the labour of our heroes past, shall never be in vain, “ we tap into celebrating and appreciating the dignity of labour. The celebration is not just one that creates a free day that people celebrate with fellow workers, family and friends but one of retrospection of where we are as a people and where we hope to get to consider our position as the supposed “Giant of Africa”.

There are some sticking points to note about the state of labour and the trajectory for the teaming workforce Nigeria is endowed with. “You can’t manage what you can’t measure,” a statement attributed to Edwards Deming, the statistician and quality-control expert and sometimes to Peter Drucker, a management thinker, becomes apt. Public figures of the Nigerian population range from 185 million to 222 million. The labour force in Nigeria is estimated to reach over 66.8 million people in 2022 by Statista. According to the Nigerians National Bureau of Statistics, the growing labour force is a continuous trend in the population ages 15 and above, but with fears of unemployment rates also rising to 40.6 percent in 2023. The labour workforce is a cause for great hope and a cause for concern deepening if you see the glass half full or half empty.

The state of labour in Nigeria entails a lot to be done to create more conducive working conditions, remuneration and benefits after retirement for workers both in the private and public sectors. What comes to mind is the government’s responsibility of their vested constitutional obligation to implement policies to ensure good working conditions for workers in the country. The role of the National labour congress has been instrumental in promoting and ensuring good working conditions for workers, reminiscent of the good old day of comrade Adams Oshoimole, which looked like a classic Nigerian movie of the protagonist overcoming all obstacles. Nigerians have recorded organized movements to push back against policies and regulations that have created hardship for the people of Nigeria. The role of philanthropy in the form of corporate social responsibility must be acknowledged for its significance during times of natural or man-made disasters in different parts of the country. And not forgetting the international community’s role through development agencies in fostering better working conditions through various programmes. But is there still a lot to be done?

Preparedness and long-term planning are vital for unplanned uncertainties; this is a lesson learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. The strategies for engaging the teaming population of the workforce in Nigeria must be inclusive and sustainable. The clear path to quick wins is information, communication, and Technology (ICT) skills that are now more important for business success. Despite the benefit of creating new remote jobs and digital skills creating new frontiers for job opportunities and entrepreneurism, many challenges remain; like internet, electricity, computer costs, security, and maintenance. The availability of training and testing centers is limited to major cities in the country, high cost of training, professionalism in the conduct of training, international certifications to validate skills and few mentorship schemes.

As we celebrate another May Day, Nigerians, Africans, and the world must promote dignity in workplaces, protect human rights, and create opportunities for marginalized people in various communities.

Mark Dekpe

Programmes Director

Initiative For Development Education and Learning

Asaba, Nigeria