Inflation, insecurity, and struggle for dignity in Nigeria’s labour market

Nigerian workers across major cities including Abuja and Lagos marked International Workers’ Day 2026 with a mixture of reflection, frustration, and cautious hope, as rising inflation, insecurity, and weak labour protections continue to erode living standards.

The annual celebration, traditionally used to honour the contributions of workers, this year doubled as a platform for renewed calls for urgent economic reforms, with labour leaders, small business owners, and workers highlighting the widening gap between wages and the cost of living.

Across Abuja, workers described a steady decline in purchasing power, with incomes no longer sufficient to meet basic needs.

Petty traders and informal workers said the sharp rise in food prices has significantly reduced their earnings.

A trader, Christiana Ega, lamented that the cost of staple goods such as rice has surged dramatically, leaving little or no profit after feeding her family.

Here is a smoother, publication-ready version of the quote:

“I started this business some years ago, but things have become very difficult now.

“The price of local rice has risen sharply, what I used to buy at N5,200 now costs about N100,000, while a full big bag goes for as much as N170,000.

“Even in the past, things were a bit better than they are today. Now, after buying goods, there is little or no profit left because most of it goes into feeding my children. It’s really not easy for us anymore”, she lamented.

Similarly, Ebuka Enaholo, a transport operators pointed to rising fuel costs as a major burden, calling on the government to reduce fuel prices to ease operational expenses and lower transport fares.

For many households, survival now depends on juggling multiple income streams.

Yet, even that has proven insufficient. Mary William, a single mother, said her daily earnings are quickly eroded by transport and feeding costs, leaving little to cater for her children or pay rent.

Residents warned that the economic strain is affecting not just livelihoods but also access to education, healthcare, and overall welfare.

Patrick Agwu, a member of the Nigeria Labour Congress, said the current challenges reflect a deeper structural problem, the absence of “decent work” across large segments of the economy.

He identified key pillars of decent work as job creation, workers’ rights, social protection, social dialogue, and occupational health and safety.

According to labour officials, Nigeria’s employment structure remains heavily skewed, with about 93 per cent of workers in the informal sector, many of them self-employed and lacking access to stable wages, healthcare, and social protection.

Agwu warned that where decent work is absent, poverty inevitably rises.

Insecurity has further compounded the crisis as states such as Zamfara State, Katsina State, and Kebbi State, farmers, teachers, and local government workers are unable to carry out their duties, reducing income opportunities and worsening poverty levels.

Although the national minimum wage was recently increased to N70,000, stakeholders said its impact has been significantly weakened by rapid economic changes.

Sandra Udeani, another member of Nigerian Labour Congress argued that inflation and rising fuel prices have outpaced wage adjustments, making it necessary to revisit and renegotiate the current wage structure sooner than expected.

She also raised concerns about non-compliance in some states and the difficulty many workers face in affording transportation to work regularly.

Concerns were also raised about the violation of workers’ rights, particularly in the private sector, where some employers reportedly restrict unionisation and collective bargaining.

Udeani said unions continue to engage employers across sectors on issues of pay, promotion, safety, and welfare, even though such efforts often go unnoticed by the public.

Workplace safety and access to healthcare were highlighted as growing concerns, with many workers exposed to hazardous conditions and unable to afford medical care due to rising costs.

Adegoke Haruna, member of the Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria noted that small and medium enterprises, which employ about 86 per cent of the workforce, are also under pressure.

He explained that rising operational costs and declining revenues have made it difficult for many SMEs to pay even the current minimum wage.

Most of these businesses operate in the informal sector, where labour laws are weakly enforced, leaving workers without structured contracts or social protections.

At Eagle Square in Abuja, workers gathered for the May Day rally, expressing frustration over persistent economic hardship and what they described as repeated government promises with limited results.

Some cited poor electricity supply, high fuel costs, and the rising cost of living as major challenges affecting their daily lives.

Abdulmalik kazeem, a civil servant, summed up the prevailing sentiment, noting that while many are dissatisfied, they continue to endure and hope for improvement.

“We keep hearing things will get better, but it often feels the same every year,” he said, while expressing cautious support for the current administration.

Kazeem described the economic environment as difficult and calling for more decisive government action.

Despite the challenges, some workers expressed gratitude for having jobs at all, noting that unemployment remains widespread.

Others, however, questioned whether government policies are translating into meaningful improvements in their daily lives, pointing to a growing gap between political leadership and ordinary citizens.