Nigerian labour unions including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have raised alarms about the dire conditions faced by workers as they demand a review of the current minimum wage of N70,000, which they argue has become inadequate due to rising inflation. On May Day 2025, Senate President Godswill Akpabio assured that both legislative and executive branches of government are committed to addressing workers' concerns. However, union leaders claim the situation has worsened since President Bola Tinubu's administration began, particularly following the removal of the petrol subsidy and the devaluation of the naira, leading to increased living costs and several protests.
Trade union representatives, such as Comrade Julius Laye from Bayelsa, criticized government policies, including new taxes and tariff hikes, contributing to hyperinflation and leaving workers struggling to afford basic needs, including healthcare. In Ebonyi State, leaders Prof. Oguguo Egwu and Comrade Igwe Chidi echoed these sentiments, highlighting the need for an adjustment to the National Minimum Wage Act, which stipulates reviews every three years. They underlined that the hardships endured by workers are unprecedented and emphasized the importance of this year’s Workers Day theme, ‘Reclaiming a civic space amid economic hardship,’ which reflects the ongoing struggles of the Nigerian workforce.
Index to Nigerian Newspapers
