News
From 10-16 to 8-hour Workday, The Story of Worker’s Day May 1
Nigeria adopted nationally on May 1, 1981, after Kano State first declared it in 1980
Called International Workers’ Day, Labour Day, or May Day , the origin traces back to the 19th-century labour movement and one key event that shaped the development was the Haymarket Affair in Chicago, 1886.
The 2026 theme according to the International Labour Organization (ILO), is “Ensuring a Healthy Psychosocial Working Environment” – focusing on mental health, stress, and work-life balance .
Nigeria adopted nationally on May 1, 1981, after Kano State first declared it in 1980.
Industrial Revolution conditions
At that time, factory workers often worked 10-16 hour days in unsafe conditions for low pay.
As a result, Labour unions began pushing for an 8-hour workday.
The 8-hour movement
On April 21, 1856, Australian workers in Victoria did a mass stoppage for the 8-hour day .
In the US, the Federation of Organized Trades and Labour Unions declared May 1, 1886 as the day the 8-hour workday would start
May 1, 1886 strikes
Between 300,000-500,000 US workers went on strike across the country. Chicago was the centre, with about 40,000 protesters.
Haymarket Affair, May 3-4, 1886
May 3: Police fired on striking workers at McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, killing at least two
May 4: At a protest in Haymarket Square, someone threw a bomb at police. It killed 7 officers and at least 4 civilians. Eight anarchists were arrested and convicted. Four were hanged.
May 1 becomes International Workers’ Day
In 1889, the International Socialist Congress in Paris chose May 1 to commemorate Haymarket and call for annual demonstrations for the 8-hour day.
By 1904, it was made mandatory for workers’ groups to stop work on May 1.
Why May 1 spread globally
Europe
Traditional spring festival of May Day merged with labour demonstrations-
India
First celebrated in Chennai in 1923. May 1 became a national holiday to recognise workers’ rights.
It’s also Maharashtra Day & Gujarat Day-
Nigeria Adopted nationally on May 1, 1981, after Kano State first declared it in 1980
Philippines
First Labour Day was May 1, 1903, when the first workers’ union protested
Purpose
Honours workers’ contributions and pushes for fair wages, safe conditions, and the 8-hour day-
Public holiday
Not everywhere
The US & Canada celebrate Labour Day on the first Monday in September instead.
How Workers’ Day Is Celebrated in Nigeria
In Nigeria, Workers’ Day is more than a ceremonial gathering. It serves as a structured platform for engagement between labour unions and the government authorities.
Each year, workers use the occasion to highlight issues affecting their welfare, including wages, working conditions, unemployment and the rising cost of living.
Organised labour bodies such as the Nigeria Labour Congress, and the Trade Union Congress coordinate nationwide activities.
Their addresses during May Day celebrations often reflect the economic realities of the time, making the event a barometer for the state of the workforce.
Beyond formal speeches, the day reinforces the relevance of collective bargaining.
It reminds both workers and policymakers that labour rights are not static but require continuous negotiation and protection.
A new documentary on the life and political struggle of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola is set to premiere in Nigerian cinemas in October.
Titled MKO, the 108-minute film is directed by Ose Oyamendan and produced with American documentary filmmaker Mark Jonathan Harris. It explores the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as free and fair, Abiola’s subsequent detention, and the controversial circumstances surrounding his death in custody in 1998.
The documentary features interviews with key figures including former military rulers Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, Abiola’s running mate Baba Gana Kingibe, members of the Abiola family, journalists, and diplomats.
Oyamendan, who worked as a young journalist during the June 12 crisis, has described the film as an investigative documentary that examines Nigeria’s unfinished democratic journey. It had its world premiere earlier this year at the Sheffield DocFest in the United Kingdom.
The Nigerian cinema release is scheduled for early October, with some reports linking the premiere to Independence Day on October 1.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results of underage candidates for viewing.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the Board’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, JAMB defined an underage candidate for the 2026 admission exercise as any candidate who will be less than 16 years old as at September 30, 2026.
Benjamin said the results were released primarily to enable candidates and their parents or guardians to know their performance in the examination. However, he stressed that the release does not confer eligibility for admission on all underage candidates.
According to him, the results cannot be used for admission or any other official purpose, except by candidates who satisfy the stringent requirements prescribed for exceptionally performing underage candidates.
Candidates can check their results by sending “RESULT” to 55019 or 66019 using the same SIM card with which they registered for the UTME.
JAMB reiterated that only underage candidates who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and maturity will be considered for admission through a rigorous, multi-stage assessment process. Key requirements include a minimum UTME score of 320, at least 80 per cent performance in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects where applicable, satisfaction of the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions, and a final assessment conducted by experts.
Veteran journalist Mr. Ohi Odiai and his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Ohi-Odiai, today mark their 17th wedding anniversary, a milestone that highlights an enduring partnership built on mutual support, professional excellence, and family.
Mr. Odiai serves as Deputy Head of News at Arise News TV, one of Nigeria’s leading television networks. He is also the CEO and Chief Editor of Ohibaba.Com, the online news platform he founded and continues to steer as a key voice in digital journalism. His career spans years of impactful reporting, newsroom leadership, and media innovation.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ohi-Odiai is the owner and founder of Bukbeth Concepts Classic, a business reflecting her entrepreneurial drive and creative vision. Together, the couple has built a home grounded in shared values and quiet strength.
The family is blessed with three children — two boys and a girl — who form the heart of their journey.
Friends, colleagues, and well-wishers describe the Odiais as a model of resilience and partnership in both public and private life.
As they celebrate 17 years of marriage today, September 5, 2026, the couple is receiving warm congratulations from across the media and business communities. Their story stands as a reminder that lasting unions thrive on commitment, respect, and the everyday work of building a life together.
Happy anniversary to Mr. Ohi Odiai and Mrs. Elizabeth Ohi-Odiai.
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