As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark Workers’ Day, renowned legal luminary and former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Branch, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, FCIArb (UK), has issued a clarion call for justice and reform in favour of the Nigerian worker. In a heartfelt message, Akangbe decried the widening gap between workers’ earnings and the soaring cost of living, describing the current situation as not just an economic crisis but a grave matter of justice.
He urged members of the legal profession to rise beyond courtroom advocacy and take an active stand in the fight for fair wages, improved working conditions, and equitable policies. Stressing that the Nigerian Bar must lead by example, Akangbe challenged the legal community to begin the change from within by prioritising the welfare of young lawyers and staff. He described the struggle for workers’ rights as central to the legal profession’s mission of justice and equity.
Read full statement below;
LET JUSTICE WORK – I STAND WITH THE NIGERIAN WORKERS
As the world celebrate Workers’ Day—a day set aside to honour the dignity of labour and the sacrifices of workers—we must pause and reflect deeply on the plight of the average Nigerian worker.
In a country where inflation soars unchecked, fuel prices unstable, rent is mostly unaffordable, and basic necessities are now luxuries, the worker’s wage doesn’t match the cost of living. Even the most recent wage adjustments have been swallowed up by the monstrous tides of inflation and currency devaluation.
Many workers cannot meet their basic needs. Their monthly pay barely lasts two weeks. This is not merely an economic issue—it is a justice issue.
As lawyers, we must not be mute. Our duty is not only in court. We are defenders of justice and the voice of the people. The Nigerian worker needs us now more than ever.
We must speak up. We must write. We must go to court if needed. We must push for fair wages and safe working conditions. We must demand policies that truly protect workers. We must challenge the system that keeps workers poorer while the rich get richer.
The worker must not remain at the mercy of a system that prioritises profits over people.
And we must lead by example. The Nigerian Bar must begin from within. The welfare of young lawyers and other members of the Bar must be treated as a priority, not an afterthought. A Bar that champions the cause of workers must not ignore the welfare of its own.
The fight for workers is a fight for justice—and justice is the heart of our profession.
Let this May Day rekindle our collective resolve to stand with Nigerian workers.
Happy Workers’ Day
LATEEF OMOYEMI AKANGBE, SAN, FCIArb (UK)
Former Chairman, NBA Lagos Branch
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