By Moses Akwashiki
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling insecurity and poverty, describing both as major obstacles to achieving decent work and sustainable national development.
Tinubu made this known at the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration held Friday at Eagle Square, Abuja. He was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume.
The event, themed “Insecurity and Poverty: The Bane of Decent Work Agenda,” attracted leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), government officials, and workers from various sectors.
Addressing the gathering, the President stressed that insecurity and poverty remain critical threats to economic growth and workers’ welfare.
“There cannot be decent work where workers fear for their lives, where wages cannot sustain families, and where insecurity disrupts farms, factories, and markets,” he said.
He acknowledged the persistence of both challenges despite ongoing efforts, but assured Nigerians of “deliberate, coordinated, and sustained action” to address them.
“Insecurity and poverty remain significant obstacles to building a peaceful Nigeria where citizens can sleep with their eyes closed,” Tinubu added, noting that the Decent Work Agenda is both a global framework and a national necessity.
Highlighting interventions under his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Tinubu linked security and job creation as mutually reinforcing priorities.
He cited the Community Protection Guards Initiative, which has recruited and trained 45,000 youths to strengthen local security while creating employment.
On poverty reduction, he said the revamped National Social Investment Programme now targets 15 million vulnerable households, with biometric verification enhancing transparency.
According to him, about 7.5 million Nigerians have been lifted above the poverty line through the intervention.
The President also pointed to major infrastructure projects—including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline—which he said have generated over 600,000 jobs.
“These are decent jobs with pension and health insurance coverage, ensuring social protection for workers,”
Tinubu further disclosed that over 100,000 vehicles have been converted under the Presidential
CNG Initiative, reducing transportation costs by about 40 percent. He added that a N200 billion MSME fund has supported more than one million small businesses nationwide.
On workers’ welfare, the President said his administration has implemented the new national minimum wage across federal institutions and resumed gratuity payments from January 2026.
“To our dear workers, your welfare remains a priority. We are committed to fair wages, improved working conditions, and dignity in the workplace,”
He also noted efforts to expand social protection to the informal sector, revealing that over 800,000 artisans and traders have been enrolled in the PENCOM Micro Pension Plan.
Tinubu called on organised labour to prioritise dialogue over industrial action.
“Strike should be the last resort, not the first. When we engage constructively, Nigerian workers win,” .
He urged employers to respect labour laws and collective bargaining agreements, assuring that the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment will continue to enforce compliance with international standards.
The President concluded with a message of hope, reiterating his administration’s resolve to build a safer and more prosperous nation.
“This government is resolute. We will overcome insecurity. We will defeat poverty. Together, we will build a better Nigeria,”.
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