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The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed wage award, demanding an immediate salary increase and a minimum monthly wage of ₦300,000 for the lowest-paid worker.
The labour centre argued that Nigerian workers require a sustainable improvement in their earnings rather than temporary financial relief that may fail to address the growing cost of living.
According to a report by The Sun Nigeria on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, the TUC’s demands were contained in a letter dated October 8 and addressed to the Federal Government through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).
The Congress maintained that the government could increase workers’ salaries immediately without waiting for negotiations on a new national minimum wage to be concluded.
The statement was jointly signed by the TUC President-General, Festus Osifo, and its Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro.
TUC Rejects Temporary Wage Relief
The TUC proposed increasing the current national minimum wage of ₦70,000 to ₦300,000 monthly, arguing that the existing wage structure has become increasingly inadequate amid rising food prices, transportation costs, healthcare expenses and other essential living costs.
The Congress also noted that some states already pay minimum wages exceeding ₦100,000, strengthening its argument that a substantial upward review of workers’ earnings is necessary.
It further maintained that no legal provision establishes a maximum salary that would prevent the Federal Government from increasing workers’ pay and adjusting other salary levels accordingly.
The labour centre disclosed that it had rejected the proposed wage award during consultations with government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
According to the Congress, temporary payments cannot provide the lasting economic relief Nigerian workers need, particularly as inflation and rising living expenses continue to undermine their purchasing power.
Unpaid Wage Award Arrears Raise Concerns
The TUC also raised concerns over the incomplete implementation of the ₦35,000 monthly wage award agreed upon on October 2, 2023.
It alleged that some workers were still owed one or two months of the payment, while others had yet to receive any benefit from the arrangement.
The Congress further claimed that more than 80 per cent of states and workers in the informal sector did not benefit from any form of wage award.
The outstanding payments, it argued, demonstrate the limitations of temporary relief measures when implementation is inconsistent and significant categories of workers are excluded.
The TUC therefore warned that ongoing negotiations over a new national minimum wage must not become an excuse for delaying immediate salary increases.
TUC Calls for Relief Beyond Federal Workers
Beyond the Federal Civil Service, the Congress called on federal, state and local governments to introduce measurable interventions to ease the economic hardship confronting workers, pensioners and those employed in the informal sector.
It urged authorities to address the rising costs of food, transportation and healthcare, ensure the timely payment of salaries and pensions, and strengthen the productive sector to support sustainable economic growth.
The demands reflect growing pressure on governments to improve workers’ living standards as the gap between earnings and the cost of essential goods and services continues to widen.
TUC Demands Immediate Implementation of JOHESU Agreement
In addition to its demands on wages, the TUC called for the immediate implementation of the agreement reached with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), particularly the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
The Congress said the agreement followed negotiations that led to the suspension of JOHESU’s industrial action.
According to the TUC, the understanding reached with the government provided for the resolution of outstanding issues relating to the CONHESS adjustment without further delay.
However, the labour centre expressed concern that the commitment remained unfulfilled seven months after the agreement was reached.
It called on the Federal Government to implement the adjustment immediately, publish a clear timetable for compliance and make the necessary budgetary provisions.
The TUC also warned that it would stand by its affiliates and pursue all lawful measures to ensure the government honours its commitments to health-sector workers.
Pressure Mounts on Federal Government
The TUC’s position adds to growing labour demands for improved salaries, the settlement of outstanding financial obligations and the implementation of existing agreements.
Its call for a ₦300,000 minimum wage also raises the stakes in the broader debate over workers’ purchasing power and the appropriate response to Nigeria’s rising cost of living.
For Nigerian workers, the central issue remains whether government interventions will translate into sustainable improvements in take-home pay, rather than temporary relief that offers limited protection against rising living costs.
The Federal Government’s response to the TUC’s demands, particularly its proposal for an immediate salary increase and the implementation of outstanding labour agreements, will be closely watched by organised labour and workers across the country.