₦70,000 Minimum Wage Not Enough For Five-Day Workweek – NLC
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has said that the proposed ₦70,000 minimum wage is insufficient for Nigerian workers to afford commuting to work five days a week.
Speaking in Abuja at the 6th National Gender Conference organised by the NLC National Women Commission, Ajaero explained that the current economic realities, including surging inflation and skyrocketing costs of food, rent, education and transportation, have made the wage proposal unsustainable.
“₦70,000 is not enough to transport a worker to and from work for 24 days in a month. That’s the painful reality,” he said.
He noted that some public servants have been forced to reduce the number of days they report to work in order to cope with daily expenses.
Ajaero’s comments come as inflation in Nigeria hovers around 24 per cent, reducing workers’ real income value by about 25 per cent over the past year.
With the trend expected to continue, analysts estimate that ₦70,000 may be worth only ₦53,000 in real terms by July.
Although the proposed minimum wage is more than double the current ₦30,000, labour leaders say it still cannot match the rising cost of living. Prices of essential items like rice, yams, tomatoes, and eggs have jumped by over 500 to 1,000 per cent since 2018, while rent in cities like Lagos has quadrupled.
Former Deputy National President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Dr. Tommy Okon, lamented that workers remain impoverished despite ongoing economic reforms.
He urged the government to urgently review its economic and security policies.
NLC Deputy General Secretary, Chris Onyeka, warned of a growing number of “working poor” in both formal and informal sectors, saying government has yet to show a concrete plan to tackle the crisis.
Lagos NLC Chairperson, Funmi Sessi, added:, “This year, we have witnessed hardship like never before… Prices keep rising, and nothing is being done to ease the pain.” She called on politicians to prioritise workers’ welfare and encouraged Nigerians to support each other in the face of the deepening crisis.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
