OFormer presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has issued a strong message in solidarity with workers across Nigeria and the world, describing them as the “backbone of every nation” and warning that continued hardship is eroding the dignity of labour.
In a statement marking Workers’ Day, Obi said he “warmly salute workers across the world, especially Nigerian workers whose daily sacrifices continue to sustain our families, communities, institutions, and national economy, even in the face of severe hardship and uncertainty.”
He lamented that the condition of workers in Nigeria has deteriorated despite their essential role in society. According to him, “It is deeply painful that those who wake up every day to teach, heal, build, farm, produce, transport, protect, and serve our nation are still denied the dignity and fair reward their labour deserves.”
Obi warned that economic pressures have made the minimum wage increasingly inadequate. He stated that “in today’s Nigeria, the minimum wage can no longer guarantee even the most modest standard of living, as inflation, rising food prices, transportation costs, and economic hardship continue to erode the value of honest work.”
He stressed that national development is directly tied to the welfare of workers, saying, “No nation can truly develop beyond the strength, productivity, and wellbeing of its workforce. The progress of any society rests on the quality of its human capital, the skill of its people, and the commitment of its workers.”
Obi added that neglecting workers has wider consequences for the country. “When workers suffer, the nation suffers. When workers are empowered, the nation prospers,” he said.
Beyond economic struggles, he urged workers to recognise their democratic power, noting that “workers also possess another powerful tool, their voice and their vote. Through democratic participation, they have the power to shape governance and determine the future direction of the nation.”
He called on workers to be intentional about leadership choices, saying they “owe it to themselves, their children, and future generations to support and demand leadership built on competence, character, capacity, credibility, and compassion.”
According to him, Nigerians must reject bad governance in all forms. “By refusing to reward failure, corruption, ethnic division, and bad governance, they can help build a nation where hard work is respected and rewarded with dignity,” he stated.
Obi concluded by reiterating his vision for a better country, saying, “A productive nation must be built on justice, fairness, and respect for labour. That is the Nigeria we must work together to achieve.”
He ended the message on an optimistic note: “With the support and participation of Nigerian workers, a New Nigeria is POssible.”