Why Workers’ Day (May 1st) Should Be Celebrated: The Real Value of Labour in Today’s Economy

Workers’ Day

Every year on May 1st, the world marks International Workers’ Day. The origin of this day can be traced back to the Haymarket Affair, a major turning point in the fight for fair working conditions. Workers demanded something that now feels basic, an eight-hour workday. At the time, people worked long, exhausting hours with little protection. The protests were met with resistance and lives were lost, but the impact was lasting. That moment helped shape labour laws across different countries and still influences conversations around workers’ rights today.

In Nigeria, Workers’ Day carries both pride and frustration. There are parades, uniforms, speeches and public recognition. For many Nigerians, work is not about passion or fulfillment, it’s about survival. Civil servants wait on salaries that don’t come when they should. Small business owners deal with rising costs, inconsistent power supply and unstable markets. Young people move from one opportunity to another, trying to find something that lasts.

The Nigerian workforce is resilient, no doubt. You see it everywhere. In the woman arranging her goods before sunrise, hoping for a good day’s sales. In the bus driver navigating long hours in traffic. In the radio presenter managing tight schedules and constant pressure to deliver. In the teacher standing in front of a crowded classroom, doing the best they can with limited resources. In the graduate who is freelancing, selling products, learning skills online and still applying for jobs at the same time. Work here is rarely straightforward and most people are building as they go, without a clear path.

A lot of people are working hard and still struggling. Being overworked and underpaid has suddenly become normal. Job security is not guaranteed and growth is often slow or uncertain. The idea of “decent work” sounds good, but for many, it still feels out of reach. Passion is talked about a lot, but passion doesn’t pay bills and it shouldn’t be used as an excuse to underpay people or stretch them beyond their limits.

Work itself is changing. The digital space has opened new paths, freelancing, remote jobs, content creation. A lot of young Nigerians are tapping into these opportunities, building platforms, learning skills online and earning in ways that didn’t exist before. Some are working for international clients, some are running small online businesses, others are creating content that attracts attention and income. It’s a different kind of hustle.

But it comes with its own challenges. One month can be great, the next can be dry and because it looks flexible from the outside, people assume it’s easy, when in reality, it requires discipline, consistency and a lot of uncertainty.

There’s also the everyday reality of workplace culture. How people are treated at work matters more than we admit. Delayed salaries, lack of communication, unrealistic expectations, toxic environments, these things wear people down over time. It’s not just about money; it’s about how work affects confidence, mental health and overall well-being. A job can either build someone or slowly drain them.

In some places, people are afraid to speak up. They worry about losing their jobs, so they stay quiet, even when things are clearly unfair. Others leave, not because they want to, but because they have no choice and then there are those who stay and endure, hoping things will improve.

Another thing worth paying attention to is how productivity is measured. In many environments, working long hours is seen as proof of dedication. People leave home early, come back late, and still feel like they haven’t done enough. Rest is often misunderstood, almost like laziness, but constant exhaustion doesn’t produce the best results. People need time to reset, to think clearly and to live outside of work.

For many young professionals, there’s also pressure to “figure it out” quickly. Social media adds to it. Everyone seems to be doing well, securing opportunities, building careers, traveling, achieving milestones. But behind the scenes, a lot of people are just trying to stay afloat. It’s a mix of ambition and uncertainty. You want to grow, but you’re also dealing with real limitations, finances, access, connections and sometimes just plain luck.

There’s also the issue of value. A lot of workers don’t know how much their skills are worth and even when they do, the market doesn’t always reflect it. People accept less because they need something rather than nothing. Over time, this affects how work is priced and how workers are treated.

Employers and decision-makers have a strong role to play here. It’s not enough to acknowledge workers once a year. Fair pay, safe conditions and room for growth should be standard. Policies shouldn’t just exist on paper; they should be felt in real life. When workers are treated well, they show up better, stay longer and contribute more meaningfully.

Even outside formal jobs, work is happening. The informal sector carries a huge part of the economy. Traders, artisans, transport workers, freelancers, many of them operate without structure or protection, yet they keep things moving. Their efforts are often overlooked, but they are essential.

As May 1st comes around again, it’s worth waiting to look beyond the celebration. What does work really look like for the average person? Who is doing the most and getting the least? Who is putting in effort every day but still struggling to move forward?

Workers are the backbone of every economy. That’s not just a phrase, it’s reality. Without them, things don’t move. Businesses stall, services stop and growth slows down. Everything depends on people showing up and doing the work, day after day, whether they feel seen or not.

Workers’ Day is more than a date. It’s a reminder that effort deserves fairness, that labour deserves dignity, and that showing up every day should count for something. Not just today, but every other day too. Because at the end of the day, work is not just about what people do, it’s about how they live.