The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have announced plans to reopen negotiations with the Federal Government over a new national minimum wage, insisting that Nigerian workers can no longer survive on current earnings amid rising inflation and worsening living conditions.
The unions made their position known in a joint address presented at the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva on Monday, where they called for the introduction of what they described as a genuine living wage that reflects prevailing economic realities.
According to the labour centres, the current wage framework no longer corresponds with the increasing costs of food, transportation, housing, healthcare, and other essential services.
They also firmly opposed any proposal to tax the minimum wage or impose additional financial obligations on low-income earners.
Nigeria’s current minimum wage of ₦70,000 was approved in July 2024 following negotiations between organised labour and the Federal Government. The wage became effective on July 29, 2024.
While the original agreement provided for a review every three years, the Federal Government later revised the arrangement in January 2025, reducing the review cycle to two years and effectively setting 2026 as the next review period.
Labour leaders said they intend to formally engage the government before the July 2026 deadline to ensure a smoother process and avoid the prolonged delays that characterised 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 labour movement argued that inflation, exchange rate pressures, and rising living expenses have significantly reduced the purchasing power of workers, making a wage review necessary.
They maintained that any attempt to tax the minimum wage would further worsen poverty and deepen hardship among workers already struggling to meet basic needs.
“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 communiqué stated.
The unions stressed that upcoming negotiations must focus on preserving workers’ real incomes rather than implementing nominal salary adjustments that fail to account for inflation.
They also called on federal and state governments to introduce temporary relief measures while negotiations are ongoing, warning that delays could increase labour unrest.
Beyond wage issues, the NLC and TUC highlighted broader socio-economic concerns affecting workers and citizens across the country.
They cited insecurity, unemployment, and rising poverty as major challenges undermining productivity and national development.
According to the unions, persistent violence and insecurity in several parts of the country have made commuting unsafe for many workers, while killings, kidnappings, and displacement continue to disrupt livelihoods and economic activities.
The labour leaders claimed that nearly 2,000 people were killed during the first quarter of the year and that millions of Nigerians have been displaced by insecurity.
They warned that worsening insecurity could eventually force workers to stay away from work as a survival measure, creating consequences beyond traditional industrial action.
The unions also expressed concern about rising poverty levels, estimating that approximately 65 per cent of Nigerians—about 150 million people—are living in multidimensional poverty due to inflation, unemployment, and declining purchasing power.
While acknowledging ongoing economic reforms, they argued that such policies have yet to produce meaningful improvements in the daily lives of ordinary citizens.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, organised labour revealed plans to develop a charter of demands that will guide its engagement with political parties and candidates.
The unions said only politicians who demonstrate commitment to security, quality public services, wage improvements, and labour rights protection would receive labour’s support.
They also condemned what they described as attempts by some state governments to interfere in union affairs and undermine democratically elected labour leaders.
According to the labour movement, any effort to weaken the independence of trade unions will be resisted.
As preparations begin for the 2026 minimum wage review, the NLC and TUC reiterated that their primary objective is to secure a wage structure that adequately reflects economic realities and protects workers from further declines in living standards.
They insisted that the outcome of the forthcoming negotiations would determine whether Nigerian workers receive a true living wage or continue to grapple with worsening economic hardship.
