Comrade Asekutu particularly congratulated workers in Delta State and across Nigeria for their unwavering contributions to national growth, sustainable development and the building of a better society despite prevailing economic challenges.
Speaking with journalists on Friday, May 1, at the Cenotaph in Asaba, the Delta State capital, Asekutu described this year’s Workers’ Day theme, “Insecurity and Poverty: Bane of Decent Work,” as apt and timely considering the harsh realities confronting the Nigerian workforce.
He called on governments at all levels to take urgent and practical steps towards reducing the hardship faced by citizens, stressing that workers remain the engine room of the nation’s productivity and therefore deserve better welfare and living conditions.
The TUC Chairman specifically appealed to the Delta State Government to urgently review the recent increase in Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax affecting workers in the state, noting that the additional deductions are worsening the financial burden on already struggling employees.
He also urged the government to tackle the rising cost of accommodation and transportation by investing in affordable housing schemes and providing subsidized buses to ease movement for workers across the state.
According to him, such interventions would significantly improve workers’ standard of living and enhance productivity in both the public and private sectors.
The 2026 Workers’ Day celebration in Asaba, like in other parts of the country, was marked by colourful activities including march-pasts and solidarity displays by workers drawn from various unions in the public and private sectors.
