Despite Nigeria’s biting inflation and weakening purchasing power, organised labour has hailed the newly proposed ₦70,000 minimum wage as a major achievement that offers hope to millions of workers across the country.
At a joint press conference on the sidelines of the 2025 International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, and President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, described the new wage floor as a 130 per cent improvement over the outgoing ₦30,000 wage. They emphasized that while the economic challenges are daunting, the wage increment reflects a significant win in Nigeria’s labour advocacy history.
According to Ajaero, the success of securing the ₦70,000 benchmark was not just in the numbers but also in the context and the process through which it was achieved. “For the first time in history, we negotiated a minimum wage within a three-year review cycle. That is unprecedented and speaks to the strength of organised labour in the face of adversity,” he stated.
However, Ajaero warned that the value of the wage could be quickly eroded if the Federal Government fails to urgently curb rising inflation and stabilise the naira. “The reality is that inflation has remained unchecked for far too long. Without decisive action, even ₦100,000 won’t be enough for workers to survive,” he lamented.
He acknowledged that past wage reforms also occurred during periods of inflation, but insisted the current economic environment is uniquely hostile. “Whether it was ₦18,000 or ₦30,000, inflation was a factor. What makes this period more troubling is the level of naira devaluation and erratic pricing of essentials,” he added.
Ajaero also applauded the introduction of wage awards—a temporary financial relief granted before the official adoption of a new minimum wage—describing it as a novel idea in Nigeria’s labour movement.
On compliance, TUC President Festus Osifo disclosed that several states have already commenced payment of the new minimum wage, describing the pace of implementation as “impressive.” However, he criticised some state governments for implementing consequential adjustments in a haphazard and unnegotiated manner.
“Many states decided unilaterally what increments to add beyond the minimum wage without proper negotiations. This undermines collective bargaining and fairness,” Osifo said.
He urged local chapters of the NLC and TUC to take the lead in ensuring enforcement at state levels, cautioning against over-reliance on national leadership to drive compliance. “State councils must not fold their arms while governors cherry-pick what terms to honour. The fight for fair wages must be decentralised,” he advised.
As inflation data for June 2025 approaches, labour leaders expressed cautious optimism but reiterated the need for structural economic reforms to reinforce the gains made through wage negotiations. They emphasized that the true victory would be felt only if workers can afford basic living costs and support their families with dignity.
In the face of ongoing macroeconomic challenges, including high unemployment and reduced household income, the labour movement said the ₦70,000 proposal should serve as the beginning—not the peak—of Nigeria’s worker welfare transformation.