The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on the Federal Government and state governments to prioritise workers’ welfare by implementing a living wage for Nigerian workers.
The group made the demand as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the 2025 International Workers Day.
In a statement released to mark the International Workers’ Day, CAPPA described workers as the backbone of the Nigerian economy while lamenting that they continue to face exploitation, unsafe work conditions, and inadequate wages within a shrinking civic space and bleak economic environment.
CAPPA referenced data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) which shows that between 2024 and 2025, workers have borne the brunt of poor government policies that have worsened inflation, eroded real incomes, and made basic goods and services increasingly unaffordable.
According to the organisation, the World Bank projects that an estimated 13 million more Nigerians will join the existing 129 million living below the poverty line by the end of 2025 due to ongoing inflation.
“Ironically, it is the neo-liberal and pro-market policies imposed by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Nigeria’s government through usurious loans and grants that are the main reasons behind the socio-economic crisis facing Nigeria today,” the statement noted.
While acknowledging the Nigerian government’s approval of a N70,000 minimum wage last year, CAPPA emphasized that the amount remains insufficient to improve workers’ purchasing power amid worsening social conditions and the cost-of-living crisis.
The organisation pointed out that, according to media reports, no fewer than 20 states have yet to implement the new minimum wage for local government workers and primary school teachers.
CAPPA also highlighted the widening wealth gap in Nigeria, noting that while the wealth of the four richest employers of labour has increased exponentially over the last two years, workers have experienced a steep decline in their purchasing power.
“The new N70,000 national minimum wage recently won by the labour movement has the same dollar value as Nigeria’s minimum wage of N125 in the 1980s! What this means is that in an actual sense, real wages have been on a standstill for at least four decades despite the increasing value and wealth the labour of Nigerian workers continues to create for the national economy,” the statement revealed.
CAPPA expressed shock at Interior Minister Olubunmi Ojo’s revelation that 90 percent of expatriates are working in roles meant for Nigerians without proper work permits, depriving qualified unemployed Nigerians of good jobs while making the country a dumping ground for unqualified foreign labour.
The organisation urged the government to seal loopholes exploited by illegal expatriates to take jobs reserved for Nigerians.
“This day serves as a reminder of Nigerian workers’ struggle for dignity, safety, and equity in and out of the workplace. Across many sectors, workers are not only demanding adequate pay, but they are also asking for recognition of their rights to organise, the ability to voice their concerns, and safe working environments free from harassment and discrimination,” CAPPA said.
The organisation called on the government and employers to ensure all workers receive fair compensation for their contributions, alongside benefits that support their well-being and development, with special attention for marginalized groups, including women, youth, and informal sector workers.
CAPPA also urged labour unions to use the Workers’ Day celebration to advocate for improved working conditions and support legislation that can alleviate the burdens of Nigerian workers.