Workers’ Day: NULGE Urges Government to Prioritise Security, Improve Workers’ Welfare
By Core Reporters
The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has called on the Federal Government to take urgent and decisive steps to secure the lives of Nigerian workers, stressing that no meaningful economic activity can thrive in an atmosphere of insecurity.
Speaking during the Workers’ Day celebration on Friday in Abuja, NULGE Secretary-General, Isa Gambo, said safeguarding lives and property remains the foundation upon which national development and productivity depend. He therefore urged the government to “put its house in order” and intensify efforts to address the persistent security challenges confronting the country.
Addressing the growing discontent among workers, Gambo said current economic realities have made life increasingly difficult, with many workers struggling to meet basic needs.
“The take-home pay of workers can no longer take them home,” he said, noting that wages are no longer reflective of prevailing economic conditions.
He added that the rising cost of living and recent increases in essential expenses have further worsened the hardship faced by workers across the country, fueling widespread frustration and agitation within the labour force.
The labour leader also called for stronger collaboration among trade unions, urging them to unite in the push for improved welfare packages. He stressed the need for constructive engagement between labour leaders and the government.
“It is time for labour leaders to sit down with the government and engage in meaningful dialogue. Through sincere and productive discussions, we can arrive at better compensation structures that reflect current realities,” he said.
He reiterated that the current economic environment remains unfavourable to workers, adding that only deliberate, people-centred policies and sustained negotiations can ease the burden and restore hope among Nigerian workers.
