Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has highlighted critical economic issues that he says are eroding the value of wages earned by Nigerian workers, as the country observed the 2025 edition of Workers’ Day.
In a post on his verified X handle on Thursday, Sani expressed concern that, despite the dedication and resilience of Nigerian workers, their earnings are continually being diminished by tough economic conditions and government policies.
He identified five major factors responsible for weakening workers’ spending power:
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Withdrawal of subsidies
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Increase in tariffs on electricity and telecommunications
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Inflation
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Falling value of the Naira
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Increase in rents
Sani urged the government to urgently address these structural challenges, warning that wage increases alone are not sufficient if economic realities continue to erode their value.
“A minimum wage that cannot match the rising cost of food, rent, transport, and power is merely symbolic,” he said. “It’s not enough to increase wages; we must protect them from erosion.”
Workers’ Day, also known as May Day, is celebrated annually on May 1 to honour workers’ rights and contributions. In Nigeria, it is marked with rallies, speeches, and renewed demands for better working conditions and economic justice.
