The organized labour has set July 2026 to commence the re-negotiation of a new National Minimum Wage with the federal government of Nigeria.
According to labour, the current ₦70,000 minimum wage is no longer realistic based on the current economic situation in the country.
The stand of the organized labour, made up of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), was made known during a joint press conference on the sidelines of the 114th International Labour Conference, holding in Geneva Switzerland.
The organized labour also appreciated the fact that State Governors have realized that the current minimum wage is not sufficient to cater for the basic needs of workers but urged them not to be in a hurry to fix an amount and wait for the right process.
The workers’ union also commended the federal government for reinstating the payment of gratuity, but also asked the government to ensure that arrears are paid.
Naijaonpoint recalls that recently, the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) pushed for a new national minimum wage of ₦100,000.
The position of the Governors was made known by the NGF Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
He said the Governors endorsed the proposed figure as they recognized the need to improve workers’ welfare amid rising living costs..
According to him, the state governments are actively engaging with the federal government and labour unions to reach a sustainable agreement.
The call is expected to shape ongoing negotiations on wages, inflation and broader economic measures.
AbdulRahman added that the Governors also endorsed the economic reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
