By RismadarVoice Media
January 1, 2026
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday called for an urgent review of workers’ wages in 2026, saying current earnings are no longer sufficient to meet basic living needs amid rising inflation and economic hardship across the country.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero made the call in a New Year message to workers and Nigerians, stressing that labour would continue to press the Federal Government to fulfill its promise to ensure workers receive a living wage.
He said the government had pledged meaningful engagement with organized labour, and the NLC would participate in such discussions “deeply and patriotically,” but emphasized that wages must reflect the cost of living.
“Our mobilization in 2026 will be strategic, tactful for the benefit of the Nigerian nation. Real hope for Nigerians is possible only when burdens are lifted or minimized, when trust is strengthened, hopes and dreams fulfilled, not betrayed,” Ajaero said.
He added, “Given the escalating inflation and suffering, we demand an urgent wage review. A worker’s income must guarantee life, not mere survival, in line with Mr President’s promise to pay living wages. We shall pursue this with every legitimate means at our disposal.”
The NLC President also called on the government to sustain security efforts nationwide, noting that the safety of lives and property remains a core responsibility of the state.
“Security remains a fundamental right, and the primary duty of any state is to guarantee it and the safety of property. We acknowledge recent successes and will continue to urge the state to build on them, as the people deserve peace and security wherever they live,” he said.
Ajaero urged workers to remain vigilant in the new year, stating that the Congress would continue to organize, mobilize, and hold all tiers of government accountable for policies affecting living standards.
“Our duty is crystal clear: we must organize, mobilize, and hold every tier of government accountable. We will support only those governments and political actors with clear, pro-people plans and actionable commitments that genuinely uplift the masses from poverty and oppression. We reject outrightly those mercantilistic politicians whose policies decimate living standards for the benefit of a parasitic few,” he added.
The labour leader encouraged workers to remain united as the country enters 2026, affirming that the NLC would continue to advocate for fair economic policies and social justice.
Nigeria last reviewed its national minimum wage in July 2024, increasing it from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 per month following negotiations with labour unions and a series of industrial actions. This adjustment came in response to persistent inflation and rising living costs, followed an earlier increase in 2019, when the minimum wage was raised from ₦18,000 to ₦30,000 after several years without review.
