May Day: Tinubu declares insecurity, poverty as national emergency
President Bola Tinubu has described insecurity and poverty as major threats to Nigeria’s economy and workforce, saying both issues now require urgent national attention due to their impact on jobs and productivity.
Speaking at the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration at Eagle Square on Friday, Abuja, the President, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said no meaningful “decent work” can exist in an environment where citizens live in fear or cannot afford basic needs.
“There cannot be decent work where workers fear for their lives or where wages cannot feed a family,” Tinubu said, linking his remarks to the International Labour Organization’s Decent Work Agenda.
The President said his administration is treating insecurity and poverty as a “national emergency,” citing ongoing security reforms including the Community Protection Guards Initiative, which he said has recruited about 45,000 youths to support community security and create employment.
He also pointed to social protection measures such as expanded cash transfers reportedly reaching around 15 million vulnerable households, alongside economic programmes aimed at reducing poverty levels.
According to him, infrastructure projects including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano gas pipeline have also generated hundreds of thousands of jobs across different sectors.
Tinubu highlighted recent labour-related reforms such as the implementation of a new national minimum wage, clearance of pension arrears, and the reintroduction of gratuity payments beginning January 2026.
He also noted that over 800,000 informal sector workers have been enrolled in the micro-pension scheme, while small and medium enterprises continue to access a ₦200 billion MSME support fund.
