The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has signalled a fresh wage battle with the Federal Government, with a declaration that it will soon open negotiations for a new national minimum wage and a setting of N500,000 as the lowest figure it believes can adequately support workers.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the existing N70,000 minimum wage had been overtaken by rising living costs and could no longer meet workers’ basic needs.
Ajaero spoke at the Rights of Workers Summit in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, over the weekend. He was represented at the event by the NLC Deputy President, Audu Amba.
Ajaero said, “Anything less than N500,000 cannot cater for workers.
“The current minimum wage is due for review, and we will soon begin negotiations with the government.”
The declaration places the proposed wage review at the centre of renewed discussions between organised labour and the Federal Government. NLC revealed that the purchasing power of workers has deteriorated significantly since the current wage was introduced.
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The NLC president’s position was reinforced by the Trade Union Congress (TUC), whose president, Festus Osifo, was represented by the Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro.
Osifo attributed the pressure on workers to higher food prices, transport costs, rent, and inflation. He established that employers must comply with labour laws and provide fair remuneration and improved welfare.
The demand has also attracted backing from the Network of Abuja Left Groups, which urged Nigerians to support organised labour’s push for a minimum wage of at least N500,000.
In a statement endorsed by six civil society and socialist organisations, including the Creative Change Centre and Anti-Imperialist Nigeria, the group framed the wage dispute as a wider question of economic survival rather than an issue affecting public servants alone.
The group urged residents of the Federal Capital Territory and Nigerians across the country to prepare to support labour ahead of the August 11 deadline.
It argued that a substantial wage increase would have effects beyond workers’ households by improving purchasing power and increasing demand for goods and services supplied by farmers, traders, transport operators, artisans, landlords, and small businesses.
The organisations also pointed to the rising cost of food, transportation, electricity, cooking gas, rent, medicines, and school fees as evidence of the pressure on household incomes.
Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, meanwhile, pledged his support for improved remuneration for workers. Represented within the discussion, he said governors should work with labour to strengthen workers’ welfare.
Idris said, “We must work together to improve the welfare of workers.”
He added that, as a member of the Governors’ Forum, he would support efforts to secure better pay.
The emerging wage debate therefore centres not only on the proposed N500,000 figure but also on whether the next minimum wage can restore purchasing power sufficiently to match the cost of basic living.
