Workers, Poor Nigerians Bleeding – NLC Sends 2027 Warning, Calls Out Govt

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticised the worsening economic and security situation in the country, saying millions of Nigerians are going through severe hardship under government policies it described as anti-people.

The labour union said workers and poor citizens were being made to carry the burden of economic decisions that had deepened poverty, hunger and insecurity across the country.

Naija News reports that the NLC stated this in its Sallah message issued on Wednesday ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

The statement, signed by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, urged political leaders to use the season of sacrifice to reflect on the consequences of their policies on ordinary Nigerians.

The union said governance should be about protecting lives and providing citizens with basic necessities, including food, shelter, healthcare, education and decent jobs.

It said public policy should not be designed in a manner that places profit above the welfare of the people.

“As we mark Eid-el-Kabir, a festival of sacrifice and obedience, the NLC reminds all Nigerians that this celebration should be different,” the union said.

“The working class and the poor majority are bleeding under the weight of neoliberal policies.”

The NLC’s comments come amid growing criticism from labour groups and civil society organisations over the economic impact of reforms introduced by President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The reforms include the removal of petrol subsidy and the liberalisation of the foreign exchange market, which the government has defended as necessary steps to stabilise public finances and attract investment.

However, the measures have also triggered higher inflation, rising transportation costs, increased food prices and greater pressure on household incomes.

The labour union also raised concern over the security situation in the country, saying insecurity had further worsened the living conditions of Nigerians.

It cited kidnappings, banditry, communal violence, herdsmen attacks and urban crime as signs of failure in the country’s governance model.

“The worsening insecurity that now threatens the existence of our nation, from banditry to kidnapping, from herdsmen bloodshed to urban violence, is a direct indictment of our governance model,” the statement said.

The union said Nigerians could not continue to celebrate religious festivals under fear, hunger and uncertainty, while leaders failed to show enough urgency in addressing the crises facing the country.

The NLC accused political leaders of repeatedly demanding sacrifice from citizens while failing to demonstrate restraint in public spending and leadership conduct.

It said the Eid-el-Kabir celebration should remind leaders that sacrifice must begin with those who hold public office.

“This season demands that our leaders search for themselves and decide to work for a Nigeria that will work for the majority and not for the few who occupy high public offices,” the NLC said.

The labour body maintained that a country where citizens struggle to feed, travel, access healthcare or secure decent jobs could not claim to be working for the majority.

It urged leaders at all levels to rethink policies that had increased hardship and weakened the purchasing power of workers.

NLC Sends 2027 Warning

The union also used the message to signal that workers and ordinary Nigerians would hold political leaders accountable in the 2027 general elections.

The NLC said it would not forget what it described as broken promises, attacks on peaceful protesters and the deliberate impoverishment of workers under the excuse of difficult policy choices.

According to the union, the next election cycle should be seen as a major opportunity for workers, unemployed youths, traders, artisans and other vulnerable groups to challenge policies that had worsened their condition.

The NLC said, “We are entering a phase where every vote must be a weapon against hunger, insecurity, and exploitation.”

The labour body urged Nigerians to use the Eid period not only for prayers and religious celebrations, but also for reflection, political education and grassroots mobilisation.

It called on citizens to build what it described as a united front of the oppressed ahead of future political contests.

The union said Nigerians must become more conscious of the link between elections, policies and the quality of their daily lives.

It added that workers and the poor must organise themselves to demand a country where governance protects the weak, secures communities and provides opportunities for citizens to live with dignity.

The NLC said the spirit of Eid-el-Kabir should inspire sacrifice, justice, compassion and courage among Nigerians, especially at a time when many families are facing hunger, insecurity and economic uncertainty.