Nigeria’s political landscape was sharply divided on Friday as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi used the 2026 Workers’ Day commemoration to reflect on the condition of Nigerian workers, with both men criticising the prevailing economic situation under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.

In a message posted on his X platform, Obi described workers as “the backbone of every nation,” praising their sacrifices across sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, transportation, security, and production.

He lamented that Nigerian workers continue to face severe hardship despite their essential contributions to national development, noting that the minimum wage can no longer guarantee a decent standard of living due to inflation, rising food prices, and transportation costs.

“It is deeply painful that those who wake up every day to teach, heal, build, farm, produce, transport, protect, and serve our nation are still denied the dignity and fair reward their labour deserves,” Obi said.

He stressed that no nation can develop beyond the strength of its workforce, adding that worker welfare remains central to national productivity and prosperity.

Obi also urged workers to recognise their political influence, calling on them to use their collective voice and votes to demand leadership anchored on competence, character, capacity, credibility, and compassion.

“By refusing to reward failure, corruption, ethnic division, and bad governance, they can help build a nation where hard work is respected and rewarded with dignity,” he said, adding that “a New Nigeria is POssible.”

In a separate but more critical message also posted on X, Atiku said he observed Workers’ Day not with celebration but with “grief,” accusing the Tinubu administration of deepening hardship under the slogan of “Renewed Hope.”

He described the promise as a betrayal of public trust, arguing that what has been renewed is hardship rather than hope.

“The Nigerian worker has been the primary victim of an administration that is more interested in increasing revenue than improving the lives of citizens,” he said.

Atiku also revisited the removal of fuel subsidy, which he acknowledged as a necessary reform but criticised for being “irresponsibly and callously executed” without adequate preparation or social safety nets.

He said the abrupt policy led to soaring transport costs, rising food prices, and widespread economic distress for workers already struggling with inflation.

According to him, while trillions were saved from the subsidy removal, Nigerians have not benefited from the funds, alleging that resources have been distributed across tiers of government without tangible impact on citizens.

He further questioned the allocation of funds toward major infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, raising concerns about procurement transparency and governance priorities.

Both opposition figures, however, converged on the importance of workers in national development, with Obi focusing on empowerment and political participation, while Atiku criticised economic management and policy implementation under the current administration.

Workers’ Day, marked globally on May 1, is traditionally set aside to honour labour contributions and advocate for improved working conditions. (Vanguard)

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