…pledges to reclaim civic space
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to cushion the economic hardship in the country, strengthen job security and ensuring workers in Nigeria were given fair treatment.
Tinubu who addressed workers on Thursday at the 2025 International Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle Square, Abuja, admitted that Nigerians were passing through economic hardship and struggling with the “real and critical” nature of rising costs of living, unemployment, and food insecurity.
Represented by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammed Maigari Dingyadi, he while pledged intensified efforts in job creation, social protection, and poverty alleviation, as he lauded Nigerian workers as the “backbone of our society.”
He said: “This administration stands ready to collaborate with labour unions, the organized and informal private sector, and Civil Society Organizations to create policies and programmes that safeguard the rights and livelihoods of workers across all sectors of the economy.
“I am well aware of the peculiarities of this economic hardship for Nigerians,” he said. “These challenges… demand definite solutions, which I as your President am poised to address.”
On the 2025 Worker’s day theme, “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the Midst of Economic Hardship,” Tinubu stressed the importance of reclaiming the democratic arena where dialogue, dissent, and social innovation flourish.
“We must protect the rights of workers to organize, advocate, and participate in decision-making processes. We must ensure that the voices of the marginalized are amplified, not silenced.”
President Tinubu further revealed Nigeria’s intent to join the Global Coalition for Social Justice under the International Labour Organization, aligning the country with international standards on employment creation, social equity, and workers’ rights.
He further assured workers of his administration’s readiness to adapt to emerging workplace realities including technology disruption, environmental hazards, mental health issues, and evolving work patterns.
Reiterating his anti-corruption drive, Tinubu vowed to “fight the intense pain of corruption which has enriched the very few to the detriment of the majority of our citizens.”
He appealed for national unity and renewed social justice, calling on all workers to recommit themselves to fairness, equity, and justice.
Tinubu lauded the workers saying, “You are the true heroes of our nation. This Workers’ Day is a celebration of your achievements and a reminder of the limitless potential we hold as a united and determined people.”
