Breaking: Tinubu Announces Emergency Measures On Insecurity, Poverty

According to Ireporter Online, President Bola Tinubu has declared insecurity and poverty as national emergencies, warning that both challenges pose serious threats to employment, productivity, and overall national stability.

The President made the declaration in his goodwill message to Nigerian workers during the 2025 May Day celebration held at Eagle Square, Abuja, where he was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. He noted that insecurity and poverty continue to weaken livelihoods and undermine economic confidence across the country.

Tinubu stressed that no meaningful work environment can exist where workers live in fear or where earnings are insufficient to sustain families, adding that both issues have become major barriers to national development and workers’ welfare.

Aligning his message with the International Labour Organisation’s Decent Work Agenda, the President described the framework as a national necessity central to his administration’s vision of ensuring that hard work is rewarded and opportunities are widely accessible.

He highlighted ongoing government interventions aimed at addressing insecurity and job creation, noting that the Community Protection Guards Initiative has engaged about 45,000 young Nigerians to support community security. He also disclosed that the expanded cash transfer programme under the Renewed Hope Agenda has reached approximately 15 million vulnerable households, lifting an estimated 7.5 million citizens out of poverty.

Tinubu further pointed to major infrastructure projects such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline, stating that they have collectively generated over 600,000 jobs nationwide.

He added that agricultural and social intervention programmes, including the National Agricultural Growth Scheme, dry season farming initiatives, mechanisation efforts, and post-harvest systems, are strengthening food security and rural employment. He also revealed that 10,000 Agro-Rangers deployed by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps across 19 states are helping protect farmers and agricultural investments from criminal activities.

On workers’ welfare, the President said his administration has introduced a new national minimum wage, cleared pension arrears, and reinstated gratuity payments scheduled to commence from January 2026. He further noted that over 800,000 informal sector workers have been enrolled in the micro pension scheme, while small businesses are benefiting from a ₦200 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises support fund.

Tinubu appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress to prioritise dialogue over industrial action, insisting that strikes should remain a last resort.

He also commended security agencies for their sacrifices, linking improved national security to economic growth and job creation, while reaffirming his administration’s commitment to better welfare, fair wages, and dignified working conditions for Nigerian workers.

In a related development, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, described Nigerian workers as the backbone of the nation, noting that while progress has been made, challenges such as insecurity and rising living costs persist. He reiterated the government’s commitment to wage reforms and job creation, stating that the new minimum wage is a step toward ensuring fair and dignified earnings for all workers, with ongoing efforts to secure full compliance across states.