Leaders of the Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s federal government to urgently review the minimum wage of N70,000 as the country celebrates May 2025.
The cost of living has been astronomical since the gasoline subsidy was cancelled on May 29, 2023.
Labor leaders said in an interview with Boxing that Nigerian workers have weakened Nigerian workers due to high prices and high inflation, adding that the minimum wage is irrelevant.
Bielsa President Julius Laye of the Trade Union Assembly said Nigerian workers are worse than ever under the leadership of the President Bola Tinubu government.
He listed several factors that negatively impact workers, and he said the new minimum wage was seriously underpaid.
“You know the government has proposed several taxes, and the tariff hikes have negatively impacted workers. The elimination of economic policies and subsidies has led to excessive inflation, so the minimum wage is already insufficient.
“Even the minimum wage is not enough to cover health insurance. By the way, they have money to seek better medical care, but Nigerian workers are not able to do so.
“We are worse than ever in this government.”
At Ebonyi, NLC’s state chairman Professor Oguguo Egwu and his TUC rival Comrade Igwe Chidi expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing economic difficulties faced by workers in the state.
They said Nigerian workers are looking forward to adjustments to the National Minimum Wage Act, which provides review every three years, as Governor Francis Nwifuru currently implements N70,000 n70,000, which is no longer enough to meet their needs.
Egwu revealed that the theme of this year’s Workers’ Day celebration was “Retrieve the Citizen Space in Economic Difficulties,” and he said the suffering in the country was unprecedented.
“It is a day to celebrate our workers, a day to respect the heroes of the past, and those who struggle for the workers in the world have freed them from the shackles of their leaders. The good thing about this year’s celebration is that we will provide awards for the Ebony people while doing outstandingly in maintaining services while maintaining the code of civilization.
“We have the opportunity to lead veterans to educate this year’s celebrations. The hardships of Nigeria are not only in Eboni State, but are unprecedented. If you look at the face of a typical Nigerian worker, it will be full of wrinkles, darkness, darkness, deep, every face of Nigerian worker, tell a story of multiple people.
Chidi added: “Workers face different challenges. The economy is very demanding not only for workers but also for Nigerians. The new minimum wage is only implemented in the state, but it is no longer important for workers. If you go to the market, then N70,000 can’t buy anything.”
Niger State Chairman TUC, Ibrahim Gana, accused the federal government of the pathetic worker state, adding that the rise in the minimum wage brought to workers by the high inflation that has damaged the earnings minimum wage.
“The situation of the workers is sad. Electricity bills, pump prices for gasoline, transportation and everything else have restored all the minimum wages. These effects multiply the workers. Just like we don’t even have a job. You don’t even get a salary. You don’t even get all the hard work, and then it’s related to all the hard work, all the hard work, all the hard work, all the meaning says.
“We never knew the federal government could push up the cost of living like this. You can’t afford three meals a day, you can’t take a bag of rice home, and you can’t do anything with your money. So, that’s where we are as workers. It’s a regret we find ourselves.”
Regarding who should blame, he added: “Who is the head of the ruling government, is this responsible for these issues? Who do you want us to blame? This is the Tunubu government. If they take the interest of workers to heart, they will do something about the devaluation of Naira.”
NLC’s Lagos State Chairman Funmi Sessi also expressed deep concern about the rising cost of living, deteriorating public services and the lack of effective government action.
“This year, we’ve witnessed the hardships in civic spaces we’ve never seen before.” Are we talking about accommodation, transportation, health care, education and even feeding? Prices keep rising and nothing is done to relieve the pain. ” she said.
Ogun State University’s TUC boss Akeem Lasisi also added that despite receiving a minimum wage last year, “celebration” was hardly celebrated.
