Labour demands living wage as inflation, naira depreciation erode ₦70,000 pay ahead of 2026 review

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have announced plans to reopen negotiations with the Federal Government over a new national minimum wage.

The talks are expected to commence before the official review deadline, as the unions say workers are struggling to survive amid rising inflation, increasing living costs, and the continued depreciation of the naira, all of which have significantly eroded purchasing power.

Speaking at the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva on Monday, labour leaders said the current ₦70,000 minimum wage no longer reflects Nigeria’s economic realities.

They called for a genuine living wage that takes into account the rising costs of food, transportation, housing, and healthcare.

The current minimum wage was signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in July 2024. While the agreement initially provided for a three-year review cycle, the Federal Government later revised the framework, making wage reviews a two-year exercise and setting 2026 as the next review period.

Labour leaders said they would formally write to the government to begin renegotiation talks immediately after the Geneva conference.

According to them, early engagement is necessary to avoid the delays that have characterised previous wage reviews and to ensure workers receive improved compensation on time.

The unions also rejected any proposal to tax the minimum wage, warning that such a move would worsen poverty and hardship among low-income earners.

They urged federal and state governments to introduce temporary relief measures while negotiations are ongoing.

Beyond wage issues, organised labour also raised concerns over insecurity, unemployment, and rising poverty across the country.

The unions warned that worsening economic conditions and insecurity are affecting workers’ livelihoods and productivity, stressing that the outcome of the 2026 negotiations will determine whether Nigerian workers receive a true living wage or continue to face economic hardship.