₦airaland Forum

By : Gloria Nwafor


To avoid the repeat of painful delays of the past, organised labour has announced that the process of renegotiating the National Minimum Wage, which expires early next year, will commence by July 2026.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Council of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has urged the state government to raise the minimum wage from N85,000 to N225,000, citing mounting economic pressure on workers and the rising cost of living in the state.

NLC under Joe Ajaero and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) under Festus Osifo, in their joint speech during the Workers’ Day celebration, over the weekend, equally demanded that from July of this year, every worker be paid 100 per cent of their basic salary till the new national minimum wage is signed into Law to cushion the effect of the renewed crisis of survival facing Nigerian workers.

They called on all workers to unite in demanding a truly living wage that reflects the harsh economic realities they face today.

Noting that the pre-election period is already marked by anxiety, division and uncertainty as well as Nigeria being at a crossroads and facing daunting challenges before Nigerian workers, the labour leaders argued that the trade union movement “stands as one of the last enduring pillars of hope” for the nation, urging workers to rise to the moment with courage and clarity, drawing strength from its shared history and collective purpose.

“We hope that those entrusted with leadership will rise to this moment with the seriousness, humility and commitment that the times demand,” they said.

On the economic front, Ajaero and Osifo said with national debts that have risen to about N200 trillion, the country should redirect its economic strategy towards job creation, productive capacity and inclusive growth, warning that an economy that serves only the top one per cent while leaving the 99 per cent behind cannot be sustainable, as it breeds
inequality, dependence and instability.

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The demand on behalf of Lagos workers was made by the council’s chairperson, Funmi Sessi, during the 2026 International Workers’ Day celebration at Mobolaji Johnson Arena at the weekend.

Labour leaders said inflation significantly weakened the value of wages, leaving many workers unable to meet essential needs such as food, housing, transportation, healthcare and education.

According to the union, the present wage structure no longer shields workers from the realities of rising living costs. They argued that although the last wage increase was welcomed, its impact has been quickly eroded by inflation, making a fresh review necessary to sustain workers’ welfare and maintain industrial harmony.

“Given the economic hardship and the high cost of living in Lagos, this amount is no longer sufficient,” the union stated, adding that a revised wage of N225,000 would better reflect present economic conditions.

The labour body also pointed to inflation, estimated at about 15.38 per cent, as a key driver of financial strain, noting that many workers were becoming increasingly vulnerable despite being employed full-time. It linked the situation to broader global economic pressures influencing fuel prices and overall living expenses.

The N85,000 minimum wage in Lagos was approved in October 2024 under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and implemented in November of the same year as part of efforts to ease inflationary pressure. However, labour leaders maintain that persistent price increases have diminished its effectiveness.

https://guardian.ng/news/lagos-workers-demand-n225000-as-nlc-prepares-for-wage-negotiation/

Previous Thread

Sanwo-Olu Approves ₦50,000 Salary Support For Lagos Workers In May

Labour Set To Renegotiate National Minimum Wage In July

Stupidity of asking for minimum wage increase and still it will lead to inflation.. Instead of them to ask for good governance, security and tackle corruption.. They are asking for same thing and expecting different result.. High house rent how to tackle it etc.

xxxx999jon:
Stupidity of asking for minimum wage increase and still it will lead to inflation.. Instead of them to ask for good governance, security and tackle corruption.. They are asking for same thing and expecting different result.. High house rent how to tackle it etc.

Haven't they been asking? In fact must the citizens ask the government for all that? Isn't the government responsibilities and obligations?

You have not seen the one they increased ON PAPER the last time.

You have not held NLC leaders with questions as to why the lack of implementation of the last minimum wage increase.

But you want another increase

Politicians spend millions weekly.

xxxx999jon:
Stupidity of asking for minimum wage increase and still it will lead to inflation.. Instead of them to ask for good governance, security and tackle corruption.. They are asking for same thing and expecting different result.. High house rent how to tackle it etc.

How will civil servant tackle high house rent?

So the politicians reckless spending don't increase inflation?

Even if minimum wage is increased to 1 million naira. The next thing this Tinubu government will do is to devalue naira to 1$ to 10,000 naira. Which is even worst leading to inflation, the best thing is for a good government to come in and stabilize the economy which will make Naira to regain its value again. That why all Nigerians should queue behind OK 2027 for better Naija

They will say the Lagos workers are all easterners
Wetin dem no go talk to discredit other trbs

xxxx999jon:
Stupidity of asking for minimum wage increase and still it will lead to inflation.. Instead of them to ask for good governance, security and tackle corruption.. They are asking for same thing and expecting different result.. High house rent how to tackle it etc.

What is the primary objective of governance and Government?

Will you go and be asking an Employee to do his job he applied for when he was employed to do that job?

dederocs:
How will civil servant tackle high house rent?

So the politicians reckless spending don't increase inflation?

same way they are doing this agitating for wage raise.

Not too much to ask still less than 200 usd. Minimum wage should not be less than 200k in present day nigeria

Ibehchizzy:
They will say the Lagos workers are all easterners
Wetin dem no go talk to discredit other trbs

At least wait till they say it first.

Why are you always so hungry to play victims?

Chikarata2020:
Even if minimum wage is increased to 1 million naira. The next thing this Tinubu government will do is to devalue naira to 1$ to 10,000 naira. Which is even worst leading to inflation, the best thing is for a good government to come in and stabilize the economy which will make Naira to regain its value again. That why all Nigerians should queue behind OK 2027 for better Naija

Let him devalue the naira to N20,000/ dollar.

It will be in the best interest of foresighted people like us who keep warning some adamant and tribalistic Nigerians against voting drug dealers and certificate forgers to ruin their lives.

The issue is that a steep rise in minimum wage will result in corresponding spike in the price of goods and services.
Nigeria doesn't have a strong price control mechanism for essentials so the cycle continues

Nigerian government won't pay such amount

Dalohad:
Let him devalue the naira to N20,000/ dollar.

It will be in the best interest of foresighted people like us who keep warning some adamant and tribalistic Nigerians against voting drug dealers and certificate forgers to ruin their lives.

In as much as Some Nigerians supports this evil government, especially those from the South West. We all know that majority are not in support, that why their only way to power was massive rigging and that's what they are still banking on in 2027 elections. I hope they fail because the economic subjugation that will be seen might be unbearable. They want to make the whole Nigerians as poor as church rats, but they will fail

saintbillion:
Haven't they been asking? In fact must the citizens ask the government for all that? Isn't the government responsibilities and obligations?

workers are part of government also.. They can work from within... Political members are not ghost.. Most are former civil servant, military police custom officers then business men and women. Minimum wage thing should be scrapped.. It's a total nonsense.. Doesn't solve the problem but compound on it.. A gradual yearly raise of less than 4percent should be suffice if the value of the fx stay the same through the year.

All workers should expect 150k as the national minimum wage once Obi is sworn in.

xxxx999jon:
Stupidity of asking for minimum wage increase and still it will lead to inflation.. Instead of them to ask for good governance, security and tackle corruption.. They are asking for same thing and expecting different result.. High house rent how to tackle it etc.

Why must it be workers that will ask. The majority of Nigeria citizens are considered poor because the salary is too poor and dependents are no more getting penny like they used to because of the inflation on ground. Was it salary that caused the inflation in the first place!?! So how will salary increase cause inflation whereas there is hyperinflation introduced by Tinubu and apc

MarketDispatch:
What is the primary objective of governance and Government?

Will you go and be asking an Employee to do his job he applied for when he was employed to do that job?

don't bother.. You won't understand.. You guys should just keep on doing same thing and expecting a different results.

This is not too much at all, with the current inflation and economy.

Many countries in Africa have minimum wage above 200k

EasternActivist:
Why must it be workers that will ask. The majority of Nigeria citizens are considered poor because the salary is too poor and dependents are no more getting penny like they used to because of the inflation on ground. Was it salary that caused the inflation in the first place!?! So how will salary increase cause inflation whereas there is hyperinflation introduced by Tinubu and apc

majority of Nigerian citizens are not members of NLC.. But NLC asking for salary increase will impact majority of Nigerians because inflation will up higher again and it will affect us all.

What the NLC can or should do is not to be asking for salary increase every election cycle.. It's plain unproductive when all it will do is make things worse.. There should and must be another way out.

xxxx999jon:
majority of Nigerian citizens are not members of NLC.. But NLC asking for salary increase will impact majority of Nigerians because inflation will up higher again and it will affect us all.

What the NLC can or should do is not to be asking for salary increase every election cycle.. It's plain unproductive when all it will do is make things worse.. There should and must be another way out.

But there is hyper inflation already so how will salary increase affect it. It's normal to increase the salary. Banks increased their worker's pay did it cause inflation? No, So if the Nlc workers are small like you say I don't think increase in their salary to merge their peers in other similar countries will cause inflation. So I totally disagree with your analogy

EasternActivist:
But there is hyper inflation already so how will salary increase affect it. It's normal to increase the salary. Banks increased their worker's pay did it cause inflation? No, So if the Nlc workers are small like you say I don't think increase in their salary to merge their peers in other similar countries will cause inflation. So I totally disagree with your analogy

go back to everytime there is salary increase... It's always followed by higher hyper inflation.. Increase salary, drivers will increase fares, food vendors will increase fares.. 100 naira will dissappear just like 20 naira, ten naira, 50kobo...later you will ask for another higher pay in few months.. It's not the solution.

Are Labour sure all company is even paying the existing ones

They should also ensure they focus heavily on staff of small businesses, canteens, mini stores mai-guards all across the federation to ensure no one who works for a month earns less than the minimum wage

Not just the government staff alone, every staff should benefit

erad:
At least wait till they say it first.

Why are you always so hungry to play victims?

They will say the Lagos workers are all easterners
Wetin dem no go talk to discredit other trbs

/
The minimum wage should be decreased to N50k/month.

/

Based on the calculation of the $1 per day UN benchmarked minimum earning as the Poverty Index, a person earning N250,000 per month if converted to Dollars ($) still falls within the poverty threshold.

xxxx999jon:
Stupidity of asking for minimum wage increase and still it will lead to inflation.. Instead of them to ask for good governance, security and tackle corruption.. They are asking for same thing and expecting different result.. High house rent how to tackle it etc.

Wages they're asking for is measurable, good governance is subjective. After all, Tinubu's urchins think his governance is the best since the inception of Nigeria.

And for the inflation, a lot can still be done to bring it down if Tinubu is serious about it.

Let workers breath abeg