May Day was first celebrated back in 1890 on May 1st. This was because the international congress of socialist parties in Europe declared May 1st as the ‘Workers Day of International Unity and Solidarity’.
In 1904, the Sixth International Socialist Congress called for all workers, trade unions and social democratic organisations to ‘demonstrate energetically on the First of May for the legal establishment of the eight-hour day, for the class demands of the proletariat, and for universal peace.’
The date May 1st was chosen because, in the USA, the eight-hour workday first came into effect on that date in 1886. This is thanks to the demands of the Federation of Organized Trades and Labour Unions. There was a general strike and a riot in Chicago in 1886, and eventually, the eight-hour workday was legally recognised.
In Nigeria, workers are honoured on Workers’ Day to celebrate Nigerian workers for staying positive and being a partner in nation-building as well as contributing towards efforts to take the country to its deserved heights.
Every 1st of May, Nigerian workers will join working people all over the World to mark Workers Day. The event which will be held throughout the country will be attended by all organized workers, professionals, students, market men and women, as well as members of other civil society organizations.
