President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a national emergency on Friday, citing insecurity and poverty as serious challenges to employment, productivity, and national stability.
Addressing thousands of workers and labour leaders in Eagle Square, the president stated that good labour cannot exist in a society marked by fear and economic misery.
His statements were in line with the worldwide May Day theme, which focused on the International Labour Organization’s Decent Work Agenda.
Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Tinubu admitted that insecurity and poverty remain “significant obstacles,” but insisted that his administration is addressing them urgently.
He emphasised the inauguration of the Community Protection Guards Initiative, which he claims has hired 45,000 young Nigerians to boost community security and create job opportunities.
The president also listed important measures in his Renewed Hope Agenda, such as expanding cash transfers to 15 million disadvantaged households and bringing a projected 7.5 million Nigerians out of poverty.
He noted that significant infrastructure projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline had created over 600,000 employment countrywide.
On worker welfare, Tinubu stated that the government has enacted a new national minimum wage, cleared pension arrears, and reinstated gratuity payments beginning in January 2026.
He also stated that over 800,000 informal sector workers have joined in the micro-pension program, while small firms continue to benefit from a N200 billion MSME support fund.
He stated, “There cannot be decent labour when workers fear for their lives, where earnings are insufficient to support a family, or where insecurity affects farms, factories, marketplaces, and other economic activity. The government has declared these hydra-headed challenges a national emergency due to their impact on productivity, livelihoods, and worker and employer confidence.
“The administration also noted that insecurity and poverty continue to be fundamental hurdles to constructing a peaceful Nigeria in which citizens can’sleep with their eyes closed,’ as well as achieving the International Labour Organization’s Decent Work Agenda.
“It emphasised that the agenda is more than just an international framework; it is a national imperative, consistent with its vision of a country where hard effort is rewarded, opportunities are available without discrimination, and every citizen may attain their full potential.
“Despite the hurdles, the administration has vowed that it will not give up in its efforts.
“It said it is confronting the issues through deliberate, coordinated, and sustained actions, backed by targeted policies and the resilience of security personnel, some of whom have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.”
The president addressed labour unions, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, and advocated for ongoing dialogue and restraint in industrial disputes.
“Strikes should be a last resort, not the first,” he stressed, urging collaboration to achieve long-term reforms.
Tinubu also praised security forces for their role in protecting economic operations, pointing out that increased safety is directly connected to job creation and national progress.
The president reaffirmed his administration’s commitment, saying Nigeria is still on pace to conquer insecurity and reduce poverty, promising a future where “decent work is not a privilege for a few, but a reality for all.”