The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced plans to begin fresh negotiations with the Federal Government over a new national minimum wage, arguing that the current N70,000 monthly salary is no longer sufficient to meet the realities of Nigeria’s rising cost of living.
The announcement was made on Thursday during the Rights of Workers Summit held in Birnin Kebbi. NLC President Joe Ajaero, represented at the event by the union’s Deputy President, Audu Titus Amba, said workers should expect discussions on a wage review to commence soon.
According to the labour union, persistent inflation and the sharp increase in the prices of essential goods and services have significantly reduced the value of the existing minimum wage.
Amba maintained that a monthly wage below N500,000 would not adequately address the financial challenges facing Nigerian workers. He stressed that the current wage structure is overdue for review and expressed confidence that negotiations with the Federal Government would begin in the near future.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) echoed the NLC’s position. Speaking through the union’s Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, TUC President Festus Osifo said soaring food prices, higher transportation costs, increasing house rents, and sustained inflation have severely weakened workers’ purchasing power, making the current minimum wage increasingly inadequate.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the existing national minimum wage of N70,000 on July 29, 2024, replacing the previous N30,000 monthly benchmark after negotiations with organized labour. The law also provides for a review of the national minimum wage every three years, paving the way for the next round of discussions.
