The President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan; the Senate President, Senator David Mark and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole; Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu and members of the diplomatic corps, as well as other ministers and legislators, will grace the May Day rally in celebration of the 2011, May Day in Abuja.The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), have, therefore, called on all workers and the Nigerian people to actively participate in all events marking this significant International Workers Day in the life of the working people.A statement from the Nigeria Labour Congress said the May Day would be celebrated on Sunday 1st May, 2011, as Nigerian workers will join working people all over the world to mark the Workers Day.The event which will be held throughout the country will be attended by all organised workers, professionals, students, market men and women, as well as members of other civil society organisations.The National May Day will take place at the Eagle Square, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, from 9.00am,the statement signed by NLC Head of Information and Public Relations, Comrade Chris Uyot said.The May Day will be addressed by the President of the NLC, Comrade Abdulwaheed Omar, and the President-General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Comrade Peter Esele, as well as leaders of civil society organisations.As part of activities heralding the May Day, the NLC said there would be a symposium which would feature prominent experts and scholars in the country on Thursday (tomorrow) at the Labour House,The symposium will address the theme of this years May Day which is: Growing the National Economy for Job Creation and Peoples Welfare.Besides, there will be a procession by workers around the city of Abuja and environs to sensitise and mobilise Nigerians on the significance of the Workers Day.The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) call on all workers and the Nigerian people to actively participate in all events marking this significant International Workers Day in the lives of the working people.Brief history of May DayWorking people around the world have always had to struggle to win decent wages, and safe working conditions.In 1860s, they campaigned for shorter working hours in many countries. On May 1, 1886, workers in Canada and the United States, held peaceful strikes and rallies to demand an eight-hour work day.Two days later, Chicago police killed several demonstrators at a clash between workers and scabs in that city. A rally was held in Hay Market Square to protest the killings, and when the police tried to forcibly disperse the crowd, a bomb was thrown. Seven policemen were killed; dozens in the crowd were injured.Although, none had thrown the bomb, eight leaders of the Chicago workers movement were charged with the death of the policemen. They were all convicted. Four were executed, one died in custody, and three were given life imprisonment, but were eventually pardoned.In memory of this struggle and the struggle of all workers for better conditions, May 1 was declared an eight-hour holiday in 1889, by the International Workers Congress in Paris.In many countries, May 1 is a workers holiday celebrated every year. In Nigeria, May Day as a holiday was first declared by the People Redemption Party (PRP) government of Kano State in 1980. It became a national holiday on May 1, 1981.According to August Spies, one of the labour leaders hung for the Hay Market deaths: If you think by hanging us you can stamp out the Labour Movement the movement from which the down-trodden millions, the millions who toil in want and misery, expect salvation. If this is your opinion, then hang us! Here you will tread upon a spark, but here and there, behind you and in front of you, and everywhere, flames blaze up. It is a subterranean fire. You cannot put it out
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