The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has chosen to skip the usual pleasantries this Sallah. In a pointed Eid-el-Kabir message, the union’s president, Joe Ajaero, declared that the festival of sacrifice should look a lot different this year, considering the extreme hardship ordinary Nigerians face. He didn't mince words, accusing government officials at all levels of failing to provide the basics of life.

For most people, the celebration is supposed to be about food and family, yet the economic reality has turned it into a struggle. Ajaero insists that the country is currently bleeding because of specific neoliberal policies—a term for economic strategies that favour market deregulation and reduced state spending—that have pushed the price of survival beyond reach. He argues that these choices show a clear preference for profit over people.

"Governance isn't about winning in the media or wishful thinking. It's about the security of lives and properties and the provision of basic necessities of life: food, shelter, healthcare, education, and decent work."

The reality of the current security crisis

The NLC didn't just stop at economic critiques. They laid the blame for the country's security breakdown squarely at the feet of the ruling class. From the banditry terrorising the North to the kidnapping and urban violence plaguing cities elsewhere, the union views the current lack of safety as a direct failure of the existing governance model. When citizens can't sleep with both eyes closed or travel between states without fear, the NLC says the state is effectively failing its primary duty.

This criticism hits home for a population that has endured years of escalating violence. The union pointed out that while leaders ask the masses to sacrifice, those in high public offices often seem far removed from the struggle. They are calling for a change in mindset, urging officials to use this period of reflection to prioritize the majority over the narrow interests of a wealthy few.

Looking ahead to the 2027 polls

The message also served as a teaser for the coming political season. With the 2027 general elections on the horizon, the NLC is already positioning itself as a watchdog. They warned that they're tracking the broken promises and the way peaceful protesters have been treated recently. For Ajaero, the next election shouldn't be another episode of elite deception where the working class gets taken for a ride.

The union is framing the upcoming polls as a moment of reckoning. They're calling on workers, unemployed youth, and small-scale traders to recognise their collective numerical strength. The goal, according to the NLC, is to turn every single ballot into a weapon against the hunger and exploitation that have become daily realities. They are pushing for grassroots organising to build a united front.

More than just a public holiday

  • The NLC leadership is demanding a policy shift that prioritises workers over capital.
  • Security threats cited include banditry, kidnapping, herdsmen violence, and urban crime.
  • The union claims leaders are gorging themselves while the masses face extreme poverty.
  • Political education is being encouraged to prepare citizens for the 2027 general elections.
  • The labour movement has vowed they won't stand by while the nation's future is auctioned off.

By framing this Eid as a time for political education rather than just festivity, the NLC is trying to change the culture of engagement. They want to ensure that the misery caused by current policy choices is remembered at the polling booth. The union is committed to ensuring the ruling class feels the pressure of these demands at every level of government.