The All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged Nigerian workers to remain strong and keep hope alive, despite the prevailing situation that has seen many of them lose their jobs or have their pay check drastically eroded amid rising cost of living.

It gave the advice in a statement issued yesterday in Lagos by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to mark the 2014 Workers’ Day.

APC in the statement said the past 12 months have been particularly challenging for Nigerian workers due to worsening state of social infrastructure, especially the dwindling power supply which has affected production and forced many companies to downsize or relocate to neighbouring countries.

It also noted that the prevailing state of insecurity in the country has either forced many to relocate to safer climes, with the attendant loss of job opportunities; drastically curtailed workers' productive abilities and also reduced the inflow of foreign investments that could led to the creation of more jobs.

“On this occasion of the International Workers’ Day, we celebrate Nigerian workers and hail their patriotism and resilience in the face of tough challenges resulting from the inability of the federal government to lift the economy of the nation, curb rising unemployment and improve the security and welfare of workers,” the party said.

“We urge them not to be disenchanted by the seemingly-hopeless situation across the country, as better days are definitely ahead,” APC added.

The party called on organised labour to continue to pressure governments at all levels to improve the work environment for their members across the country, because they constitute the bulwark of the nation’s economy.

It also urged it not to rest until all those who are willing and able to work have been provided with gainful employment, instead of the harvest of death and outright extortion that job seekers were recently subjected to in the name of employment by a government agency.

•Photo shows Nigerian workers during a May Day march.