The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has accused an unnamed government official of orchestrating a plan to populate Workers’ Day celebrations with non-workers, in a bid to stage-manage support and project a false narrative of unity and approval.
Speaking during a press conference in Abuja, Ajaero expressed strong disapproval over what he described as “a desperate attempt to deceive Nigerians.” He alleged that the official in question was more interested in optics than addressing the real issues affecting Nigerian workers.
“He’s trying to get people who are not workers to come to the stadium for him to take salute,” Ajaero said. “That’s not Workers’ Day. That’s a political rally in disguise.”
The comment follows growing tension between the labour movement and the government over unpaid wages, subsidy removal impacts, and stalled minimum wage negotiations. Labour leaders have voiced frustration at what they perceive as government indifference to workers’ plights.
Ajaero also hinted at possible boycotts of future state-organized events if workers continue to be sidelined and misrepresented. “You can’t ignore our struggles and then expect us to march and clap for you. That era is over,” he said.
Reactions have poured in on social media, with many Nigerians supporting Ajaero’s stance and demanding more accountability from government officials.
As the labour union continues to push for systemic reforms, Ajaero’s statement underscores the growing disconnect between state leadership and the country’s working class.
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