Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has outlined major economic challenges he says are steadily eroding the value of Nigerian workers’ wages, even as the country marked Workers’ Day 2025.
In a post on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, Sani commended the resilience of the Nigerian workforce but expressed concern that their earnings are being weakened by unfavorable policies and worsening economic conditions.
He identified five key factors behind the declining purchasing power of workers:
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Removal of fuel subsidies
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Higher electricity and telecom tariffs
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Inflation
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Depreciating Naira
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Rising rent costs
Sani urged the government to tackle these structural problems, warning that simply raising the minimum wage is not enough if inflation and other pressures continue to erode workers’ real income.
“A minimum wage that cannot match the rising cost of food, rent, transport, and power is merely symbolic,” he said, adding, “It’s not enough to increase wages; we must protect them from erosion.”
Workers’ Day, celebrated every May 1, honors the contributions of laborers and advocates for improved working conditions. In Nigeria, the day is marked by rallies and renewed calls for economic justice.