On Workers’ Day, organized labor issued a May 31 deadline to the federal government to establish a realistic minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero and Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart Festus Osifo expressed that the current minimum wage of N30,000 is inadequate due to economic challenges like inflation, food price increases, and rising energy and transportation costs. They demanded an expedited approval of a new living wage of ₦615,000 before the end of May by the Bola Tinubu administration.

Ajaero warned, “If minimum wage negotiations persist beyond May, we cannot guarantee industrial harmony.”

Osifo urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and power distribution companies to immediately reverse the recent electricity tariff hike for Band A customers. He stated, “The NLC and TUC advise NERC and power sector operators to reverse the last increase in electricity tariff within the next one week.”

Despite assurances from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, fuel scarcity continues to worsen across the country, with long queues at filling stations. CONTINUE READING