The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre has called for urgent reforms to protect Nigerian workers, warning that worsening hardship and weak welfare systems have left millions struggling to meet basic needs.
In a May Day statement on Thursday, CISLAC Executive Director Auwal Musa Rafsanjani said Workers’ Day comes “at a time when millions of Nigerians are facing rising living costs and policies that have deepened inequality.”
“Many workers who serve the country continue to live under difficult conditions,” Rafsanjani said.
He blamed “structural weaknesses” in public service systems, saying subsidies and welfare mechanisms do not reach the average worker.
Unlike other countries where labour benefits from state support, Nigeria’s system has left workers vulnerable, CISLAC said. The group criticised “short-term policy approaches” by leaders, arguing that failure to prioritise sustainable welfare has pushed the workforce into “persistent poverty.”
“The dignity of labour has been undermined,” Rafsanjani said. “Improved welfare during and after service is a fundamental right, not a privilege.”
CISLAC urged federal and state governments to ensure timely payment of salaries, regular promotions, and greater investment in training and skills development.
It noted that capacity building for workers “remains largely inadequate.”
The organisation also called on workers to shun absenteeism, laziness, and ghost-worker fraud, and to uphold professionalism and accountability in service delivery.
In its statement, CISLAC paid tribute to uniformed personnel — serving and retired — for their role in national security, and recognized civil servants, private-sector employees, and development workers for sustaining governance and economic growth.
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“A fair and equitable system is essential for national stability, economic growth, and social justice,” Rafsanjani said.
CISLAC reaffirmed its commitment to advocate policies that protect workers and promote an inclusive society.
It wished Nigerian workers a meaningful Workers’ Day.
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