ABUJA: As Nigeria marks May Day 2025, state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress have raised the alarm over the deteriorating conditions of Nigerian workers, demanding an urgent review of the ₦70,000 minimum wage.
They lamented that inflation, rising living costs, and recent government policies have rendered the wage inadequate and unsustainable.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio acknowledged these concerns, assuring that both the legislative and executive arms of government are committed to addressing workers’ plights. We will not shirk our responsibility to work together… to create opportunities for growth and prosperity,” he said.
However, labour leaders nationwide argue that President Bola Tinubu’s economic policiesparticularly the fuel subsidy removal and naira devaluation, have worsened workers’ welfare despite his earlier promise of a living wage. Many said the ₦70,000, recently adopted by a few states like Ebonyi, can no longer meet basic needs.
In Ebonyi, NLC chairman Oguguo Egwu described the hardship as unprecedented, stating the theme of this year’s celebration is “Reclaiming Civic Space Amid Economic Hardship.” He said many workers live in “multi-dimensional poverty,” as inflation erodes the value of their income. “A typical Nigerian worker’s face is filled with deep wrinkles, each line tells a story of suffering, he said.
TUC Chairman in Niger State, Ibrahim Gana, said inflation and soaring prices have “taken all the minimum wage again, leaving workers with little or no purchasing power. It feels like we’re not even working. You get paid, but it means nothing, he lamented, blaming the Tinubu administration for the worsening economic climate.
In Rivers State, NLC chair Alex Agwanwor decried the relentless rise in the cost of goods and services, noting that even with the wage increase, workers are barely surviving. “We haven’t fared better at all under Tinubu,” he declared.
Imo State’s NLC chairman, Chigaemezu Nwigwe, also criticised the government for failing to uphold its promise of a living wage. He said the fuel subsidy removal compounded existing economic challenges, and workers across the country are battling mounting bills with meagre salaries.
In Oyo, NLC boss Kayode Martins stated that workers’ purchasing power has drastically diminished. Nigerian workers are now worse off compared to their counterparts in neighbouring countries, he said. Minimum wage should help redistribute wealth, but it no longer reflects economic realities.
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Lagos NLC chair Funmi Sessi echoed similar concerns, pointing out the sharp rise in costs across all sectors, housing, healthcare, education, and feeding, without commensurate government intervention.
Ogun State’s TUC chairman, Akeem Lasisi, described the ₦70,000 wage as symbolic, saying many workers still earn as low as ₦30,000 without benefits. “There’s little to celebrate. Living costs are skyrocketing, while access to social services remains poor,” he said.
In Benue, Edo, and Kwara, union leaders voiced the same frustrations. Edo’s NLC chairman, Bernard Egwekhide said workers had not fared well due to harsh federal policies, though he commended the state government for initiating a wage review.
Kwara’s NLC and TUC leaders, Saheed Olayinka and AbdulRaman Onikijipa, said expectations following the fuel subsidy removal had been dashed. What’s happening to workers is beyond lamentation,” Onikijipa stated.
Meanwhile, Akpabio paid tribute to Nigerian workers for their resilience, dedication, and patriotism. He pledged that the National Assembly would protect workers’ rights and pass labour-friendly laws.
You remain the backbone of our economy, he said. “Together, we’ll build a brighter future for Nigerian workers.”
