Precious Nwonu, Enugu
The Nigeria Labour Congress has given the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage and take measures to reduce petrol prices, warning that failure to meet its demands could lead to fresh industrial action.
The ultimatum, which commenced on October 9, was issued at a joint meeting of the union’s National Executive Council and Central Working Committee in Abuja.
In a communiqué signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the congress demanded that negotiations for a new minimum wage begin before the end of October, arguing that the current wage had lost its purchasing power amid the depreciation of the naira and rising living costs.
The union said workers were struggling to afford basic necessities, including food, housing, healthcare, transportation and education.
“The current national minimum wage has been rendered worthless by the relentless depreciation of the naira and the astronomical rise in the cost of living,” the communiqué stated.
The NLC called for a living wage that reflects the cost of living and protects the dignity of Nigerian workers.
It also urged the government to work with relevant agencies to reduce petrol prices to the level recorded when the current national minimum wage was enacted in 2024.
According to the congress, rising petrol prices have contributed to higher transportation costs and increases in the prices of food and other essential commodities.
Beyond the wage and petrol price demands, the labour union directed the Federal Government to implement the terms of settlement reached with the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals on February 5, 2026.
It also called for the resolution of outstanding demands arising from the agreement and the implementation of demands presented by the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council.
Meanwhile, the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions has urged the Federal Government to introduce measures to ease the economic pressure on workers.
The association called for interventions to address rising costs of food, transportation, healthcare, housing and education, alongside improved security.
Its Acting National President, Fanimokun Adesina, made the call on Wednesday during the commemoration of the 2026 World Day for Decent Work at the ASSBIFI Events Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
Adesina criticised the inability of the current minimum wage to adequately cover workers’ basic needs, insisting that employees deserved to work and live with dignity.
“A situation whereby the national minimum wage cannot buy a bag of rice or provide three square meals for an average Nigerian family of four for two weeks is nothing but slavery,” he said.
“Workers are not slaves; we must be treated with the dignity that decent work reflects.”
Adesina described the theme of this year’s event, *‘Young Workers Organising for the Future’*, as timely, noting that trade unions needed to address succession challenges and prepare for changes in the workplace.
He said artificial intelligence, digitalisation, automation, platform-based employment and algorithmic management were already reshaping the future of work.
The ASSBIFI leader also urged banks, insurance companies and other employers to respect workers’ freedom of association and allow them to join trade unions without intimidation, threats or victimisation.
He cited International Labour Organisation Conventions 87 and 98, which address freedom of association and collective bargaining, and called for the ratification of Convention 158 on termination of employment.