Amidst growing economic hardship, Delta workers used May Day to demand the enforcement of their labor rights

The 2025 International Workers’ Day celebration in Delta State became a platform for urgent calls to action as workers gathered at the Cenotaph in Asaba. Labour leaders seized the moment to demand the Delta State Government enforce labour laws more rigorously to prevent exploitation, wage denial, and workplace hazards.

In a powerful joint address, Comrade Goodluck Ofobruku (NLC) and Comrade Martins Bolum (TUC) underscored the increasing hardship facing workers. “Without enforcement, labour rights are meaningless,” they said. They urged authorities to hold exploitative employers accountable and expand support systems like healthcare and food subsidies.

The unions stressed that the economic burden of inflation, job losses, and low pay had pushed many Nigerian workers to the brink. “Strengthening the welfare framework is the only way to preserve dignity in labour,” the statement read.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme, praised workers as critical players in the state’s development. “You are not only the engine of our economy but also the pulse of our governance,” he noted.

The governor’s remarks aligned with the day’s theme: ‘Reclaiming the Civic Space in the Midst of Economic Hardship’, which he described as timely and reflective of the workers’ ongoing struggle. He encouraged the labour force to continue championing their rights through civic engagement.

Governor Oborevwori also outlined key steps his administration has taken under the M.O.R.E Agenda. These include the consistent payment of salaries and pensions, investment in education and healthcare infrastructure, and entrepreneurship training for job creation.

One of the day’s highlights was the unveiling of a whistle-blower mechanism, complete with a secure phone line. “We want to protect whistle-blowers and ensure your voices contribute to good governance,” the governor announced.

For the workers of Delta, May Day was more than a commemoration—it was a statement of resolve. They are demanding an end to token gestures and pushing for sustained action that uplifts the working class and strengthens the foundations of a fairer society.