Nigeria’s deepening security and economic challenges took centre stage on Friday as President Bola Tinubu used the 2026 Workers’ Day platform to sound a strong warning, declaring insecurity and poverty as national emergencies threatening the country’s future.
The message was delivered at Eagle Square, where thousands of workers gathered to mark the annual celebration. Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the President made it clear that meaningful economic growth cannot happen in an environment dominated by fear and hardship.
According to a statement by his media aide, Yomi Odunuga, Tinubu acknowledged that both insecurity and poverty continue to stand in the way of national progress but insisted that his administration is confronting the situation head-on through coordinated actions.
“There cannot be decent work where workers fear for their lives, where wages cannot feed a family, or where insecurity disrupts farms, factories, markets, and other economic activities.
“These hydra-headed challenges, the government notes, have been treated as a national emergency due to their impact on productivity, livelihoods, and the confidence of both workers and employers.
“The administration also acknowledged that insecurity and poverty remain major obstacles to building a peaceful Nigeria where citizens can sleep with their eyes closed, and to achieving the Decent Work Agenda as envisioned by the International Labour Organisation.
“The agenda is not merely an international framework but a national imperative, aligned with its vision of a country where hard work is rewarded, opportunities are accessible without discrimination, and every citizen can reach their full potential, ” he said.
Beyond the warning, the President outlined steps already taken to ease the burden. He pointed to the Community Protection Guards Initiative, which has engaged about 45,000 young Nigerians to strengthen local security while also providing jobs.
He also highlighted social and economic programmes under his Renewed Hope Agenda, including expanded cash transfers reaching 15 million vulnerable households and lifting an estimated 7.5 million Nigerians out of poverty.
On infrastructure, Tinubu said major projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline have together generated over 600,000 jobs nationwide.
Addressing workers’ welfare, the President said his administration has implemented a new national minimum wage, cleared outstanding pension arrears and resumed gratuity payments from January 2026. He added that more than 800,000 informal sector workers have been enrolled in the micro pension scheme, while small businesses are benefiting from a N200 billion support fund.
Tinubu reiterated that tackling poverty requires a broad strategy, combining job creation, economic diversification and social protection. He listed key interventions between 2024 and 2026 to include agricultural support programmes, dry season farming, mechanisation and improved access to finance through the Bank of Agriculture.
He further revealed that 10,000 Agro-Rangers have been deployed by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps across 19 states to protect farmers and boost agricultural productivity.
Speaking directly to organised labour, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, the President called for continued dialogue in resolving disputes, warning against hasty industrial actions.
“Strike should be the last resort, not the first,” he said.
He also commended security agencies for their sacrifices and assured Nigerians that efforts remain ongoing to restore peace and stabilise the economy.
Ending on a hopeful note, Tinubu said his administration remains committed to building a country where workers are protected and rewarded.
“We are committed to improving working conditions, promoting fair wages and ensuring that every Nigerian worker enjoys dignity, safety and equal opportunity in the workplace,” he added.