The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly criticized several state governors for failing to fully implement the new national minimum wage and salary adjustments. Despite the official increase to ₦70,000, some states have reportedly added as little as ₦5,000 to workers’ pay, sparking frustration among employees.
According to Business News, NLC President Joe Ajaero made the remarks during the 6th National Gender Conference held in Abuja. He stated that the wage implementation was inconsistent and lacked proper negotiation with labor unions.
Ajaero emphasized that inflation, rising taxes, and soaring living costs have left many workers worse off than before. “The salaries of some workers are currently below the amount they were receiving before the new minimum wage of ₦70,000 was implemented, as a result of taxes and inflation,” he said.
He accused governors of avoiding the agreed process of consequential salary adjustment, calling their approach superficial. In many states, workers were not properly consulted, leading to dissatisfaction and confusion about the actual wage structure.
In addition to wage concerns, the conference addressed gender inequality in the workplace. Salamatu Aliu, Chairperson of the NLC Women’s Commission, said women continue to face unequal treatment, including limited leadership opportunities and lower wages.
Aliu explained that the NLC is revising its Gender Policy to encourage more active roles for women in union activities and leadership. She emphasized that the update is part of a broader strategy to address ongoing gender imbalances.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) pledged its support for the NLC’s goals. Represented by Mrs. Chinyere Emeka-Anuna, the ILO reaffirmed its commitment to defending workers’ rights and promoting gender equality across all sectors.
Article updated 3 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
