The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for more humane and people-focused governance, urging authorities to prioritise the welfare of Nigerian workers amid rising economic hardship.
In its Easter message titled “This Easter: A Cross For Liberty!”, signed by its president Joe Ajaero, the union criticised policies that suppress workers’ rights and deepen inequality.
The congress warned that using state power to silence dissent or impose harsh economic measures that favour a small elite undermines leadership and contradicts the spirit of Easter.
It urged political leaders to draw lessons from the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, stressing that governance should be about service, not personal enrichment.
According to the NLC, leadership must move away from “primitive accumulation” and embrace policies that liberate citizens rather than oppress them.
The union highlighted pressing challenges facing Nigerians, including soaring transport costs, persistent power outages, insecurity, and failing infrastructure.
It described high transportation costs as a “heavy burden” on workers, noting that they erode wages and reduce daily life to a struggle for survival.
On electricity, the NLC said the ongoing crisis was more than a technical issue, calling it a “tool of mass disempowerment” that cripples businesses and denies citizens a dignified life.
The congress also condemned worsening insecurity and economic hardship, urging the government to implement policies that restore public transportation, stabilise power supply, and prioritise citizens’ welfare over elite interests.
Reflecting on Easter, the NLC said the season symbolises sacrifice and redemption, contrasting it with what it described as forced sacrifices imposed on Nigerian workers.
It argued that workers are bearing the cost of poor governance through lost wages, insecurity, and declining living standards, while leaders remain insulated from hardship.
The union concluded by urging the government to transform current economic pains into meaningful reforms that will deliver tangible relief to Nigerians.
