By Michael Oche
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for the immediate setting up of a tripartite committee to negotiate a fresh national minimum wage, arguing that the existing N70,000 wage has been significantly weakened by inflation.
The demand was made in an Independence Day statement issued on Wednesday by NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero. The labour centre said discussions on a new wage structure expected to come into effect in 2027 should commence immediately.
According to the NLC, the purchasing power of the current minimum wage has declined considerably as workers contend with rising inflation, transportation fares, food prices, rent and other essential expenses.
“The current N70,000 minimum wage was already destroyed by inflation before it was implemented,” the Congress said, calling for “the immediate establishment of a tripartite committee to ensure that a new wage standard for 2027 is formulated and legislated before the year runs out.”
The labour organisation warned that any delay in constituting the committee could slow down negotiations and affect the timely introduction of a new wage regime.
The demand comes amid sustained pressure from organised labour over the rising cost of living and its effect on workers’ purchasing power, particularly following increases in petrol prices.
Public sector unions operating under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council have similarly called for negotiations to begin on a new national minimum wage expected to take effect in 2027.
Ajaero also urged the Federal Government to take immediate steps to lower the price of petrol, citing transportation costs as a major factor behind the rising cost of living.
The NLC said petrol currently sells for N1,430 per litre or more in major cities, with prices considerably higher in some remote areas. It argued that higher transport costs were contributing to increases in food prices, school fees, rent and other essential expenditures.
The Congress therefore urged the government to “seek ways to immediately reduce the price of petrol as transportation costs are the central transmission mechanism of inflation in Nigeria.”
It also called for the immediate payment of a nationwide wage award to workers at the federal, state and local government levels, describing the measure as an urgent response to declining real incomes.
“A wage award is not charity. It is an emergency intervention against the collapse of real income,” the labour centre stated.
The NLC further pressed the Federal Government to implement tax relief measures agreed with organised labour during the October 2023 dialogue. It said the tax incentives contained in the Memorandum of Understanding between labour and government had yet to be implemented.
The labour centre also renewed its call for a reduction in the cost of governance, saying the government must demonstrate transparency and set an example at a time when workers are being asked to endure economic hardship.
“When workers are asked to tighten their belts, the extravagance and waste of the governing class are unacceptable,” it said.
Reflecting on the country’s wider economic situation, the NLC said the Independence anniversary should serve as an opportunity to assess whether political independence had translated into economic freedom and dignity for Nigerians.
The Congress described the current situation as “a full-scale survival crisis”, citing structural inflation, declining wages and rising prices of basic goods and services.
It also urged increased investment in critical infrastructure, including roads, hospitals and schools. According to the labour centre, improved road infrastructure would help lower transportation costs and enhance economic productivity.
On youth unemployment, the NLC called for the creation of genuine economic opportunities for young Nigerians, warning that unemployment, poverty and inequality were fuelling desperation and irregular migration.
“The government must create genuine opportunities so that young people can see hope instead of being preached to about hope,” the Congress said.
The labour centre also drew a link between insecurity and the country’s economic challenges, noting that farmers, teachers, doctors and other workers in parts of the country were increasingly affected by violence.
