The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has maintained its two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding a reduction in petrol prices and fresh negotiations on the national minimum wage amid rising living costs.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said on Monday in Abuja that Nigerian workers were still facing severe economic hardship despite the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage in 2024. He argued that rising food and transportation costs had eroded workers’ purchasing power, leaving many struggling to meet basic household needs.
Ajaero also faulted the salary adjustments made after the minimum wage negotiations, disputing claims that federal workers received increases of about 133 per cent. According to him, the government added N40,000 to workers’ salaries, an adjustment he said had failed to provide adequate relief amid worsening economic conditions.
The labour leader urged the government to introduce measures to ease workers’ hardship before industrial action becomes necessary, insisting that the objective was to improve living conditions rather than embark on strikes.
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, called for a balance between workers’ demands for better remuneration and the government’s financial capacity. Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the SGF, Dr Abubakar Kana, Akume stressed the need for dialogue, credible economic data and sustainable wage policies to prevent avoidable industrial disputes.
The disagreement highlights growing tensions between organised labour and the Federal Government over workers’ welfare, petrol prices and the adequacy of the current minimum wage.
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