President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday called on workers to remain patient with his administration regarding their different demands in the face of economic hardship facing the country, saying the situation is a global phenomenon.
This is just as the leaderships of both the Nigeria Labour Congress and and the Trade Union Congress asked the President for the upward review of retirement age for all categories of civil servants.
The President stated this at Eagle Square, Abuja, venue of 2025 May Day with the theme: “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the Midst of Economic Hardship”.
Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, said he was aware that Nigerians, especially workers faced rising costs of living, hunger, insecurity and unemployment.
He also said he was aware that some workers were losing their means of livelihoods and the pressure to provide necessities for their families, promising to address all the aforementioned challenges soon.
“Economic hardship, which today is a global phenomenon, cuts across all regions, testing the resolve of world leaders, but has not broken our spirit. As your President, I assure you that this administration is committed to creating such a utopic climate for the common good.
“I am well aware of the peculiarities of this economic hardship for Nigerians which is occasioned by the struggles and challenges you workers and indeed many Nigerians face ranging from rising costs of living, hunger, insecurity, unemployment, loss of livelihoods and the pressure to provide necessities for your families, amongst others.
“These challenges are real, critical and demand definite solutions, which I as your President is poised to address. It is in this regard that my administration is not only committed but intentional in formulating and implementing policies that promote job creation, decent jobs, poverty alleviation, economic growth and stability, as well as supporting the most vulnerable among us.”
On his part, the President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, who spoke on behalf of the two Labour unions, noted that raising retirement age of all categories of workers to 65 years would address the perceived injustice among workers.
While presenting some of the demands of the NLC, Ajaero said, “It is imperative to extend the revised retirement age of 65 years or 40 years of service currently enjoyed by teachers, health professionals, and judges to all public servants.”
