The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have fired a warning shot at the Federal Government, declaring they will reopen negotiations for a new minimum wage and this time, they’re demanding a “genuine living wage,” not just a token increase.
In a joint address at the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva on Monday, the unions made it clear: Nigerian workers are drowning as inflation eats away at their earnings.
“We demand nothing less than a genuine living wage that reflects today’s harsh economic realities,” the unions declared.
While the current N70,000 minimum wage signed into law on 18 July 2024 was originally set for a three-year review, the government adjusted the framework in January 2025, moving to a two-year cycle that sets July 2026 as the next review date.
But labour isn’t waiting.
“We shall write again to the government demanding the commencement of the process for renegotiating the national minimum wage,” the unions announced from Geneva.
Their message to Abuja: delays won’t be tolerated this time.
The unions painted a grim picture of Nigerian workers’ daily struggles:
· Inflation has eroded real incomes across the board
· Food, transport, housing, and healthcare costs have skyrocketed
· Official economic indicators fail to reflect household realities
· Workers are being pushed to breaking point
Red lines drawn
Labour fired a clear warning shot to policymakers:
“We reject outright any attempt to tax the minimum wage or impose further burdens on the poor.”
The unions also demanded immediate relief measures by governments at all levels until a new wage is signed into law, warning that delays could spark industrial tensions across the country.
Beyond wages: A nation in crisis
Labour used the global platform to sound the alarm on Nigeria’s deepening crises:
Security nightmare:
· Nearly 2,000 people killed in the first quarter of 2026 alone
· Millions displaced by violence
· Workers now face deadly commutes, with killings and abductions becoming routine
· Entire communities and economic activities disrupted
Poverty epidemic:
· A staggering 65% of Nigerians roughly 150 million people now live in multidimensional poverty
· Inflation, job losses, and collapsing purchasing power driving the crisis
· Macroeconomic reforms yet to translate into better living standards
2027 election warning
With elections approaching, labour unveiled a political strategy: they’re developing a charter of demands and will only back political actors who commit to:
· Improved security
· Functional public services
· Meaningful wage reforms
· Protection of labour rights
Union independence under threat?
Labour also raised concerns over alleged government interference in union affairs in some states, vowing to resist any attempt to weaken union independence or impose external control.
What’s next?
With the July 2026 review window approaching, labour insists the upcoming negotiations must protect real incomes not just deliver nominal adjustments.
The message from Geneva is clear: Nigerian workers have reached breaking point, and the government must act or brace for consequences.
