Workers’ Day: NLC demands full implementation of N70,000 ninimum wage

By Kunle Sanni

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has renewed its call for the immediate and full implementation of the N70,000 national minimum wage, warning that millions of Nigerian workers are struggling under worsening economic hardship.

Speaking at the May Day celebration in Abuja on Thursday, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, decried the deepening crisis confronting workers across the country, citing rising poverty levels and the failure of many public and private sector employers to comply with the new wage directive.

Ajaero noted that despite the passage of the minimum wage legislation, several states and private organizations have yet to implement it, leaving workers vulnerable to inflation, job insecurity, and declining living conditions.

“The Nigerian worker today is caught in a web of hardship and despair,” Ajaero said. “We are at a crossroads, facing anti-worker policies that continue to push many into poverty.”

He accused government authorities of ignoring workers’ plight while pursuing policies influenced by international financial institutions, which he claimed have exacerbated inequality and widened the gap between the rich and the poor.

Calling for collective action, Ajaero urged labour unions nationwide to intensify advocacy not only for wage enforcement but also for a comprehensive review that reflects current economic realities.

“Our fight is far from over. We must not only demand the implementation of the minimum wage but also push for a holistic wage review to cushion the impact of today’s economic challenges,” he declared.

He encouraged workers to remain united and vocal, stressing that “our liberation will not be handed to us—we must fight for it.”