The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called off centralised May Day celebrations in Rivers and Edo states, citing the imposition of emergency rule in Rivers and alleged political meddling in the affairs of the Edo State council.
Following this decision, the NLC national leadership directed all affiliated industrial unions in Rivers State to restrict their Workers’ Day celebrations to the NLC secretariat.
Similarly, unions in Edo State were instructed to mark the occasion independently at their various union secretariats.
The directive was contained in separate letters dated April 22, 2025, and addressed to the NLC chairmen in Rivers and Edo states.
The letters were signed by the Deputy General Secretary of the NLC, Ismail Bello.
The NLC expressed strong opposition to the emergency rule in Rivers State, which included the appointment of a sole administrator, and called for the immediate reinstatement of the elected government.
In Edo State, the NLC accused the current administration of political interference and of fostering factionalism within the state labour council.
In its letter to the Rivers State NLC Chairman, Alex Agwanwor, the Congress noted: “In line with our tradition, Workers’ Day will be commemorated on May 1, 2025. This year, Congress has finalised arrangements to mark the day with the theme, ‘Reclaiming the Civic Space in the Midst of Economic Hardship,’ to be observed across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).”
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has raised concerns over what it termed an unwarranted delay by the Supreme Court of Nigeria in setting a hearing date for the legal challenge against the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA alleged that the delay “could be a red flag indicating that Justices of the apex court may be apprehensive about deciding on the landmark constitutional questions raised by the suit.”
The group warned that this perceived hesitancy risks undermining Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
It suggested that the delay might be a subtle tactic aimed at pressuring the appellants — 11 governors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — into reaching a political settlement with the Federal Government rather than seeking a judicial verdict.
HURIWA also criticised the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for allegedly using the situation to blackmail some PDP governors into either switching political allegiance or endorsing President Bola Tinubu’s potential second-term bid under threats of political consequences.
