As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the 2025 International Workers’ Day, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has made a passionate appeal to employers, labour unions, and government institutions to foster inclusive and supportive work environments for all Nigerians, particularly those living with or affected by HIV.
In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its Director-General, Dr. Temitope Ilori, the agency emphasized the urgent need to address workplace stigma and promote the rights of people living with HIV (PLHIV). According to Dr. Ilori, International Workers’ Day serves as a reminder not just to honour the contributions of the Nigerian workforce, but also to reflect on the importance of creating equitable spaces for every worker, regardless of health status.
“As the world commemorates International Workers’ Day, we celebrate the invaluable role workers play in national development and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that workplaces in Nigeria are inclusive, fair, and non-discriminatory,” the statement read.
Dr. Ilori stressed that workplaces should be seen not only as centres of productivity but as communities where mutual respect, support, and human dignity must prevail. She called on employers to implement policies that support HIV awareness, uphold the rights of HIV-positive employees, and eliminate workplace discrimination. “With almost two million Nigerians living with HIV, many of them are actively contributing to our economy while grappling with the dual challenge of health management and social stigma,” she noted.
She further emphasized that HIV status should never determine an individual’s access to employment, career advancement, or human dignity. “Health rights are human rights. Let us work together to build a future where no one is sidelined due to their HIV status,” Dr. Ilori added.
Statistics from NACA reveal that Nigeria has over two million people living with HIV. Of this number, 1,753,425 individuals are aware of their HIV status. This includes 1,693,457 adults—comprising 579,209 males and 1,114,401 females—and 54,983 children aged between 0 and 14 years.
Encouragingly, access to treatment has witnessed a major boost, with 1,735,808 persons currently receiving life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART). Among them are 1,690,057 adults—577,632 men and 1,112,425 women—as well as 45,751 children.
The agency further disclosed that of those on treatment, 1,160,256 individuals underwent testing for viral suppression, with 1,112,339 achieving a suppressed viral load. This category includes 1,083,177 adults—363,531 males and 719,645 females—and 29,162 children.
NACA reiterated that continued progress in the national HIV response depends heavily on the elimination of stigma and discrimination in all sectors, particularly in the workplace. The agency reaffirmed its commitment to working with partners to ensure that every Nigerian, regardless of their HIV status, can work and live with dignity.
With Nigeria’s labour force playing a vital role in nation-building, NACA’s call serves as a timely reminder that inclusivity, compassion, and respect are fundamental to sustainable development.
