Today, May 1st Workers’ Day. The politicians will say it. The unions will shout it out. HR will post graphics with smiling stock photos and papers. We celebrate labor by exploiting it.
The same CEO who will say “Happy Workers’ Day” cut staff bonuses “due to economic realities.” The same governor who declares today a public holiday hasn’t paid teachers for 4 months. The same union leader who will scream into a microphone show less passion towards the workers.
We say we love workers. We refuse to act for them.
Nigeria’s minimum wage is ₦70,000. A bag of rice is ₦80,000. The math is not hard, It’s insulting. We demand 9-5 working time, then WhatsApp them at 10pm by act. We preach “dignity of labor” then outsource the cleaners by act so we don’t pay pension.
We killed the worker by act before we mourn them. Your artisan waits 6 months for payment because “the client hasn’t paid us yet.” That’s an act. Your driver sleeps in the car because you won’t cover transport cost. That’s an act.
Some worker even work on hope without getting paid. Until the person who sweeps your office can afford to send their kid to school then we can say “Happy Worker Day” by act. Workers’ Day is only being said by mouth and mouths don’t pay rent, acts do. Act for them. Then say it. Not on or the other way around.
