The Nigeria Labour Congress has called on Nigerian workers to embrace unity and collective action as the surest path to hope amid prevailing economic hardship.

The NLC president, Joe Ajaero, said this in a Christmas message on Wednesday, extending fraternal greetings to workers and the Nigerian masses.

Mr Ajaero said the festive season reflected hope and renewal, despite policies and economic conditions that had made life increasingly difficult for workers and citizens.

“Our hope is not passive. It is built on our collective power and our ability to organise and act together as workers and citizens,” he said.

He said that forces benefiting from hardship often seek to divide Nigerians along ethnic, religious, and regional lines to weaken collective resistance.

“We must not allow ourselves to be divided. Our strength lies in unity, solidarity, and disciplined collective action,” he said.

The NLC president called for tax justice, faulting any tax system that excludes workers in its formulation.

Mr Ajaero also demanded social justice, including access to quality healthcare, education, and decent living conditions for all Nigerians.

He said there was a need for equity for workers, noting that labour must be fairly rewarded and that workers’ rights must be fully respected.

“Only when we mobilise our numbers can we resist policies that inflict suffering and reclaim our dignity,” Mr Ajaero said.

He urged workers to use the festive season to recommit to the organisation at the community and workplace levels ahead of 2026.

Mr Ajaero, while wishing Nigerians a peaceful Christmas, called for a renewed resolve to build a just, secure, and inclusive nation through collective action.

(NAN)