As workers across the globe prepare to mark the 2026 International Workers’ Day, organised labour in Kano State has concluded arrangements for a robust and thought provoking celebration, beginning with a pre-May Day symposium aimed at addressing some of the most pressing challenges confronting Nigerian workers.
The symposium, jointly organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria in Kano State, is scheduled to hold on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at the Green Desert Hotel along Airport Road, near the INEC office in Kano.
Speaking ahead of the event, Kano State NLC Chairman, Comrade Kabiru Ado Inuwa, said the symposium is designed to stimulate critical conversations around governance, insecurity, poverty and the future of decent work in Nigeria.
He disclosed that the Kano State Head of Service, Bilkisu Shehu Maimota, will chair the session, which is expected to commence at 9:00 a.m.
According to him, renowned scholar, Professor Murtala Muhammad of North West University, Kano, will present a paper titled, “Democratic Accountability and Nigerian Workers: Linking Electoral Choice to Good Governance.” The paper is expected to underscore the crucial role workers must play in shaping democratic governance through informed electoral participation.
Similarly, Associate Professor Aliyu Yusuf Ahmed of Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology will deliver a keynote presentation on the theme, “Insecurity and Poverty: The Bane of Decent Work.”
The discussions are particularly timely, coming at a period when Nigerian workers continue to grapple with economic hardship, rising insecurity, unemployment and declining purchasing power. Labour leaders believe the symposium will provide a platform for practical solutions and policy recommendations capable of improving workers’ welfare and strengthening democratic accountability.
Comrade Inuwa called on all affiliate unions to mobilise their members for active participation, stressing that workers must remain at the forefront of advocacy for social justice, economic equity and good governance.
He also commended the Kano State Government for its continued support to organised labour, particularly through the Office of the Head of Service.
“As workers, our voices must be heard, not only in the workplace but also in the governance process. This symposium offers an opportunity to collectively chart a path towards a more secure, prosperous and equitable society,” he said.
The pre-May Day symposium is expected to set the tone for the main Workers’ Day celebrations on May 1, reaffirming organised labour’s commitment to championing policies that promote decent work, security and sustainable development in Kano State and Nigeria at large.
