ABUJA, Nigeria – A coalition of Nigerian labour unions demanded a review of public service retirement age from 60 to 65 years and a service duration increase from 35 to 40 years at the annual Workers’ Day Celebration on Monday, May 1, 2023.
The event, themed ‘Workers’ Rights and Socioeconomic Justice,’ marked a significant moment in the country’s labour movement.
The gathering saw the convergence of past and present leaders from the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, the Trade Union Congress, TUC, and other affiliate unions at the iconic Eagle Square in Abuja.
This year’s commemoration, the last under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, was marked by bold demands for change.
In addition to the proposed retirement age increase, Organised Labour called for an independent panel to investigate the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, and his team over their conduct in the 2023 general elections.
The group also demanded a probe into a questionable N12 billion allocation by the Ministry of Aviation for the purchase of ten fire trucks.
“Equity, fairness, and justice underpin the survival of societies and create resilience for nations in the midst of upheavals and turbulence,” said NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero.
He emphasised Nigeria’s need for a strong labour force to stimulate development, noting that poor wages, workplace rights violations, and unpaid salaries were stripping workers of their rights.
TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo, expressed concern over the nation’s economy, which he described as being “on auto pilot,
