The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have announced plans to restart negotiations with the Federal Government over a new national minimum wage, warning that workers can no longer cope with the rising cost of living.
The labour unions said inflation continues to erode workers’ incomes, making the current wage structure inadequate for meeting basic needs.
Speaking at the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva on Monday, the unions called for the introduction of a “genuine living wage” that reflects Nigeria’s current economic realities. They also rejected any proposal to tax the minimum wage or impose additional financial burdens on low-income earners.
Nigeria’s current minimum wage of N70,000 was signed into law on July 18, 2024, following an agreement between organised labour and the Federal Government. President Bola Tinubu officially announced the new wage on July 19, 2024, and it became effective on July 29, 2024.
The agreement initially provided for a three-year review cycle. However, the Federal Government revised the arrangement in January 2025, reducing the review period to two years and setting 2026 as the next review date.
In preparation for the review, labour leaders said they would formally engage the Federal Government ahead of the July 2026 deadline to avoid the delays that have affected previous wage negotiations.
“The current Act expires early next year, and we have announced that renegotiation will commence by July 2026 to avoid the painful delays of the past. As soon as we leave here, we shall write again to the government demanding the commencement of the process for renegotiating the national minimum wage,” the unions stated.
The NLC and TUC argued that workers are facing severe economic pressure due to inflation, currency depreciation, and rising costs of food, transportation, housing, healthcare, and other essential services.
According to the unions, official economic indicators do not accurately reflect the daily struggles of millions of Nigerians. They warned that imposing taxes on the minimum wage would worsen poverty and increase hardship for vulnerable workers.
“We demand nothing less than a genuine living wage that reflects today’s harsh economic realities. We also demand immediate relief measures by governments at all levels until a new minimum wage is signed into law. We reject outright any attempt to tax the minimum wage or impose further burdens on the poor,” the labour leaders said.
They stressed that the upcoming negotiations should focus on protecting workers’ real incomes rather than implementing nominal wage increases that fail to keep pace with inflation.
The unions also urged federal and state governments to introduce temporary relief measures while negotiations are ongoing. They warned that prolonged delays could heighten industrial tensions across the country.
Beyond wage issues, organised labour highlighted broader national concerns, including insecurity, unemployment, and growing poverty levels.
The labour leaders said insecurity in several parts of the country has made daily commuting increasingly dangerous for workers. They cited incidents of killings, kidnappings, and mass displacement, which they said continue to disrupt livelihoods and economic activities.
According to the unions, nearly 2,000 people were killed during the first quarter of the year, while millions have been displaced from their communities.
They warned that worsening insecurity could force many workers to stay away from work as a means of self-preservation, potentially escalating social and industrial tensions.
The labour movement further claimed that about 65 per cent of Nigerians, estimated at roughly 150 million people, are currently living in multidimensional poverty. The unions attributed the situation to inflation, job losses, and declining purchasing power.
They acknowledged that ongoing economic reforms are aimed at stabilising the economy but argued that the benefits have yet to reach ordinary citizens.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the NLC and TUC revealed that they are preparing a charter of demands to guide their engagement with political actors.
The unions said only candidates who demonstrate commitment to improved security, quality public services, wage reforms, and the protection of workers’ rights would receive labour’s support.
They also expressed concern over what they described as interference in union affairs by some state governments. According to the labour leaders, certain authorities are attempting to undermine democratically elected labour leadership structures.
The unions vowed to resist any effort to weaken the independence of organised labour or impose external control on labour organisations.
As the 2026 minimum wage review approaches, labour leaders insist that their priority remains securing a wage structure that reflects current economic realities and protects workers from further income erosion.
They maintained that the outcome of the negotiations will determine whether Nigerian workers finally receive a living wage or continue to face worsening economic hardship.
