SATURDAY April 26, 2025 |
By thenewsdesk.ng
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Joe Ajaero, has raised concerns over the diminishing value of the national minimum wage amid rising inflation, urging organised labour to unite in confronting the challenges facing Nigerian workers.
Speaking at the Trade Union Congress (TUC) first quadrennial delegates conference held in Abuja on Friday, April 25, 2025, Ajaero stressed the urgent need for collective action by labour unions in addressing economic pressures burdening the workforce.
He pointed out that the recently approved N70,000 minimum wage by President Bola Tinubu’s administration had already been outstripped by soaring costs, including taxes and utility bills.
According to Ajaero: “We have fought battles on minimum wage and we have not relented. We have fought battles on fuel subsidy and still fighting battles on tax regimes.
“It is a period where the tax on your salaries are almost higher than the minimum wage increase on the salaries. It is a period we need to sit and reflect on our survival.”
He called on labour leaders to consider broader welfare measures such as social safety nets that are standard in more developed economies. Ajaero also questioned the uniform implementation of the new wage structure across all sectors and levels of government.
“Very important, the cost of living index. We need to look at it. How does it affect an average worker? How was the minimum wage the NLC, TUC, and others fought for implemented?
“Was it implemented in the local government for teachers, workers and those in the formal and informal sector of the economy alike?” he asked.
Describing inflation as a major threat to workers’ wellbeing, he said, “The landlords and transporters have taken it all. Electricity tariff is more than our minimum wage, the tariff on telecom is going high by the day.”
Ajaero emphasized the need for stronger partnerships among labour unions and civic groups to push back against policies he believes are harmful to workers’ welfare.
“It is a period we need to reenact our relationship with not just the trade union movement, but our civil society allies and the Nigerian masses.
“The NLC is extending its hand of fellowship to the TUC for us to work together hand in hand for the interest of the Nigerian people and workers.
“History beckons that if we fail to work together, we will all perish. At this point in time, we have to work on those things that affect us most,” he said.
He concluded by describing the situation as critical, calling for a strong and resilient labour movement to tackle the pressing challenges workers face.
“The challenges that the workers face are not drills but real,” he said, “adding that they required a robust strong trade union to surmount them.”
