May Day 2025: CAPPA Urges Government to Prioritize Workers’ Welfare, Implement Living Wage
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark International Workers’ Day, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on the federal and state governments to prioritize workers’ welfare by implementing a realistic living wage that reflects the country’s economic realities.
In a statement signed by its Media and Communications Officer, Robert Egbe, CAPPA hailed Nigerian workers as the backbone of the national economy but decried the persistent exploitation, inadequate pay, and unsafe working conditions they endure in a deteriorating socio-economic environment.
“Workers continue to suffer under policies that have worsened inflation, eroded real incomes, and made basic necessities unaffordable,” the statement read, citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics and the World Bank, which projects that an additional 13 million Nigerians will fall below the poverty line by the end of 2025, joining the current 129 million living in poverty.
CAPPA criticized the Nigerian government’s reliance on neo-liberal economic policies pushed by the World Bank and IMF, claiming these external pressures have deepened domestic hardship. Despite last year’s approval of a ₦70,000 minimum wage, the group argued that the sum remains grossly insufficient in the face of soaring inflation and a weakened naira.
States Yet to Comply
The statement noted with concern that at least 20 state governments have yet to implement the minimum wage for local government workers and primary school teachers, further undermining workers’ rights and social equity.
“Even though Nigerian workers continue to create value and wealth for the economy, they are trapped in a cycle of want and misery,” CAPPA stated, referencing an Oxfam report that showed a widening income gap between workers and Nigeria’s wealthiest employers.
To illustrate, CAPPA pointed out that the purchasing power of the current minimum wage is nearly equivalent in dollar terms to ₦125 in the 1980s, demonstrating four decades of wage stagnation despite rising productivity.
Rising Expatriate Labour, Rising Unemployment
Adding to the workers’ plight, CAPPA expressed alarm at revelations by Interior Minister Olubunmi Ojo that 90% of expatriates in Nigeria are employed in roles meant for citizens—and without valid work permits.
“This deprives qualified Nigerians of jobs and turns Nigeria into a dumping ground for unqualified foreign labour,” the group warned, calling for strict enforcement of labour and immigration laws to protect domestic job opportunities.
A Call for Action
CAPPA emphasized that beyond wages, Nigerian workers deserve safe work environments, freedom of association, and protection from harassment and discrimination. It urged the government to adopt people-centered policies and inclusive reforms, especially for vulnerable groups such as women, youth, and informal sector workers.
“This May Day must serve as more than a symbolic gesture. It should be a turning point for genuine government action on workers’ rights,” the statement added.
Finally, CAPPA encouraged labour unions to leverage the momentum of Workers’ Day to advocate for lasting legislative reforms that uplift workers and advance social justice.
