By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Bayelsa
BAYELSA: Amid rising inflation and dwindling purchasing power, workers in Bayelsa State have called on government at all levels to urgently prioritize better welfare, improved remuneration, and housing schemes to cushion the harsh economic realities facing the Nigerian workforce.
The call came during the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at Peace Park in Yenagoa, where the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) presented a united front in urging for tangible improvements in workers’ living conditions.
Delivering a joint address, NLC State Chairman, Comrade Barnabas Simon, decried the worsening economic hardship caused by the removal of fuel and electricity subsidies, rising taxes, and a general cost-of-living crisis that has left many workers unable to meet basic obligations like rent, school fees, and feeding.
“Today’s worker is financially suffocated. He cannot pay rent, feed his family, or send his children to school. These are not luxuries; they are basic human rights,” Simon said.
The theme of this year’s celebration, “Workers’ Insecurity and the Need to Reclaim the Civic Space,” highlighted the broader socio-political challenges workers face, including what labour leaders described as the shrinking of democratic participation and exclusion of the working class from decision-making.
Simon acknowledged the efforts of the Bayelsa State Government in implementing pro-labour policies, such as the ₦80,000 minimum wage for state public servants, regular promotion exercises, and the construction of a new nine-storey State Secretariat Complex.
“These efforts are commendable, but they are not enough,” he stated. “We urge the government to introduce a housing scheme for workers, clear outstanding promotion arrears, especially for teachers and local government staff, and expand job creation initiatives.”
Governor Douye Diri, in his address to workers, praised their resilience and loyalty in both formal and informal sectors and reiterated his administration’s commitment to worker-friendly governance.
He announced the ongoing recruitment of 1,000 new civil servants, as well as additional teachers for the state’s public schools, promising further investments in healthcare and infrastructure to ensure a dignified work environment.
“We are not blind to your sacrifices. Our government will remain focused on creating a productive and inclusive civil service,” Governor Diri said.
As workers dispersed from the colourful celebration, their message was clear: recognition is appreciated, but real relief must come in the form of housing, fair wages, and a voice in the policies that shape their lives.