The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have demanded N500,000 as Nigeria’s new national minimum wage, citing the rising cost of living.
NLC President Joe Ajaero made the demand at the Nigeria Rights of Workers Summit in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State. NLC Deputy President Audu Amba represented him at the event.
Ajaero said the N70,000 minimum wage no longer meets workers’ basic needs.
“Anything less than N500,000 cannot cater for workers.”
He said the NLC would begin fresh discussions with the Federal Government over workers’ pay.
“So we want to enter into another negotiation with the federal government to request at least N500,000 to be paid to the nation’s workers.”
The demand comes two years after President Bola Tinubu signed the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act, which increased Nigeria’s minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000.
Meanwhile, TUC President Festus Osifo backed the call for higher wages as workers deal with increased costs of food, transport and housing.
Osifo, represented by TUC Secretary-General Nuhu Toro at the summit, also called for stronger enforcement of labour laws and better protection for workers.
During the 2024 negotiations, organised labour initially demanded N615,000 before the Federal Government, state governments, private-sector representatives and labour unions agreed on N70,000.
The NLC’s latest proposal would increase the national minimum wage by N430,000 if the Federal Government accepts the demand.
