The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern warning to employers across Nigeria, demanding full compliance with the National Minimum Wage Act. The labour body expressed concern that millions of workers, particularly in the private sector and government parastatals, continue to earn wages below the legally mandated minimum, despite the escalating cost of living.
Speaking at the 21st Rain School of the NLC in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, described the situation as “economic enslavement,” insisting that no Nigerian worker should earn less than what is required to live a dignified life.
In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed into law a new minimum wage of N70,000 per month, more than double the previous benchmark of N30,000. The law also mandates a wage review every three years instead of five, to keep salaries in tune with economic realities.
However, Ajaero lamented that the situation remains dire for many Nigerian workers.
“The struggle for the national minimum wage is not yet over. Millions of workers in the private sector and parastatals are still enslaved by starvation wages. Public sector workers are also not fully enjoying the benefits of the National Minimum Wage Act,” he said.
The labour leader accused some employers of deliberately refusing to comply with the wage law, exploiting economic hardship as an excuse while continuing to record profits and expand their businesses.
The call for wage compliance comes at a time when inflation continues to erode workers’ purchasing power. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), headline inflation stood at 22.22% in June 2025, a slight moderation from 22.97% in May. Food inflation also eased to 21.97% year-on-year, compared to 40.87% in June 2024.
Despite this slight improvement, Ajaero noted that most Nigerian workers remain trapped in poverty due to low wages.
“It is unacceptable that in a country where the cost of living keeps rising, millions of workers are still receiving starvation wages,” he said. “This is economic enslavement, and it must stop.”
The NLC has called on the federal government to enforce the National Minimum Wage Act immediately, including imposing sanctions on defaulting employers. Ajaero warned that the labour movement would not hesitate to mobilise nationwide protests if violations persist.
“Compliance with the minimum wage is not optional; it is a legal obligation. We demand full compliance across all sectors, private and public alike,” he warned, adding that state governors and government agencies yet to implement the wage law would be held accountable.
The NLC president also linked the minimum wage struggle to broader democratic freedoms, warning that attacks on labour unions and civil rights further worsen workers’ conditions.
Charging participants at the NLC Rain School to return to their workplaces with renewed determination, Ajaero emphasised the need for grassroots mobilisation.
“Organise, mobilise, and fight for decent work and decent pay. A dignified wage is not a privilege; it is a right,” he said.
The NLC has vowed to intensify monitoring of compliance and escalate its campaign until every Nigerian worker receives the legal minimum wage.