The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sharply criticized the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for failing to protect Nigerian workers from worsening economic conditions, rising insecurity, and limited job opportunities. In a Workers' Day statement issued on May 1, 2026, the party's National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, expressed solidarity with workers while condemning the government's policy failures.
Workers Doing More, Earning Less
According to the ADC, many Nigerians are working harder but earning less as inflation continues to erode wages. The cost of living has risen across key sectors including food, housing, transport, and energy. The party attributed this situation to governance failures, arguing that insecurity has disrupted farming and business activities, while job creation has not kept pace with the growing workforce.
Policy Failures Blamed
The ADC stated that the hardship is not accidental but a direct consequence of policy choices by the All Progressives Congress (APC). It noted that insecurity remains widespread, making it difficult for farmers to produce and for businesses to operate. Job creation has stalled at a time when millions of young Nigerians are entering the workforce. The cost of living continues to rise without meaningful intervention to cushion its impact on workers.
“A government that cannot guarantee safety, create jobs, or stabilise the cost of living is a government that is failing its workers. A nation that does not reward work cannot build prosperity,” the party said.
ADC's Commitment to Workers
The ADC emphasized that the dignity of labour must be matched by the dignity of reward. This requires an economy deliberately structured to create jobs, support enterprise, and ensure productivity translates into real income for workers. The party outlined its commitments:
- Drive job creation by unlocking key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and services.
- Restore security as a foundation for economic activity, enabling Nigerians to work, farm, and do business without fear.
- Stabilize the macroeconomic environment so wages can regain their value.
- Reduce the cost of living by addressing inflation at its roots, from food production to energy supply.
- Support small and medium-sized businesses, which remain the largest employers of labour in Nigeria.
- Ensure policies are designed with the Nigerian worker at the centre, not as an afterthought.
The ADC concluded: “Workers are not asking for charity. They are asking for fairness. What they have received instead is neglect.”
