Nigeria Labour Congress anticipates new minimum wage negotiations amid rising inflation

This comes two years after the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage, with calls for another review due to worsening economic conditions and eroded purchasing power. NLC spokesperson Benson Upah stated that while no formal engagement has started, organised labour expects discussions to commence shortly. His comments follow remarks by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who highlighted the need for a new conversation on workers' wages, citing persistent inflation that has significantly diminished the value of the current minimum wage.

Gbajabiamila suggested that improving workers' welfare should encompass more than just salary increases, including affordable housing, healthcare, transportation, education, and other social protection measures. The last wage review in 2024 involved tense negotiations between the Federal Government, NLC, Trade Union Congress, and the organised private sector, culminating in a N70,000 minimum wage after President Bola Tinubu's intervention. Labour leaders had previously warned that the new wage could quickly lose value if inflation remained unchecked, a prediction that has largely materialized with continued increases in prices for essential goods and services.

NLC President Joe Ajaero has consistently argued for a living wage that reflects current economic r