- The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) states that even a ₦1 million monthly salary is “useless” if the naira remains weak and inflation continues to drive up the cost of living.
- NLC President Joe Ajaero emphasized that workers are struggling to afford food, housing, and transport, noting that nominal wage increases are quickly swallowed by rising prices.
- The union clarifies that new minimum wage negotiations must follow legal procedures and cannot be rushed to meet election timelines.
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Joe Ajaero, has declared that the primary concern for Nigerian workers is the actual value of the national currency rather than the total amount of money earned.
Eko Hot Blog reports that in Abuja on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Ajaero argued that a ₦1 million salary would be meaningless if the naira lacks the strength to sustain a family through the end of the month.
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Ajaero highlighted that the steady rise in inflation and the surge in fuel prices, which hit ₦1,288.54 per litre in March, have severely eroded the purchasing power of the average worker.
He called for urgent government intervention to cushion these economic shocks and urged the development of a resilient energy policy to protect citizens from global price fluctuations.
Regarding the highly anticipated new national minimum wage, the NLC boss insisted that the process must remain grounded in law.
“The minimum wage has not been negotiated yet,” he stated, adding that the congress will commence formal discussions within the stipulated window before the current structure expires.
He warned against bypassing technical adjustments, noting that some states have failed to properly adjust salary structures even after adopting previous minimum wage increases.
As May Day (Workers’ Day) approaches, Ajaero revealed that any planned protests would be targeted rather than nationwide.
Demonstrations will be limited to states that have refused to implement the existing minimum wage or have failed to apply necessary consequential adjustments for local government and education sector workers.
While acknowledging recent reviews of peculiar allowances by the Federal Government, the NLC remains firm that economic stability is the only long-term solution for Nigerian workers.
