The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has criticised several state governors for failing to implement the new minimum wage of ¦ 70,000, along with the agreed consequential salary adjustments for workers.
NLC President, Mr Joe Ajaero, voiced his concerns during the 6th National Gender Conference organised by the NLC National Women Commission on Tuesday in Abuja. Themed “Accelerate Action for Gender Equality: Imperative for a New NLC Gender Policy,” the conference gathered union leaders and advocates committed to improving equity in the world of work.
Ajaero lamented that, in practical terms, some workers now receive less than what they earned prior to the wage increase, due to deductions from taxes and the rising cost of living.
“Salaries have become increasingly insufficient,” he said. “The new wage of ¦ 70,000 is quickly eroded by electricity tariffs alone. If a worker reports consistently for 20 to 24 days in a month, that amount is gone before the month ends. That is the harsh reality we are dealing with today.”
He painted a grim picture of the economic strain facing workers, pointing to ballooning school fees, worsening transportation conditions, and soaring inflation as daily obstacles.
Ajaero described the lack of full implementation of the minimum wage as “the worst kind of injustice” being inflicted on Nigerian workers.
“In some states, workers only see ¦ 5,000 added to their salaries. So what happened to the consequential adjustments we fought for?” he asked. “The NLC negotiated ¦ 70,000, but when it came to the actual adjustment of salaries to reflect this increase, the Congress was sidelined.”
He further noted that civil servants under the Federal Government had not yet formally raised complaints with NLC leadership, despite widespread dissatisfaction with the partial wage implementations.
“Many workers are silently suffering. They have not spoken up about how these policies have been rolled out in their agencies,” Ajaero added.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the NLC Women’s Commission, Mrs Salamatu Aliu, also addressed attendees, stressing the persistent inequalities faced by women in workplaces and across Nigerian society. Her remarks were delivered by the Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, Mrs Deborah Yusuf.
Aliu said Nigerian women continued to endure discrimination, harassment, and limited opportunities, particularly in leadership and decision-making roles.
“Women are still being relegated to low-paying and low-status jobs,” she noted. “There is significant underrepresentation of women in top leadership positions, despite their active participation in the workforce.”
She acknowledged that the NLC has made deliberate efforts to advance women’s involvement in union leadership, citing the ongoing review of the NLC Gender Policy as part of broader reforms.
“We are updating the Gender Policy to align with current global gender priorities. This is part of our strategy to boost the meaningful participation of women in trade union activities,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Mrs Chinyere Emeka-Anuna, Senior Programme Officer, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to promoting worker rights and gender equality.
Representing the ILO Country Director to Nigeria, Mrs Vanessa Phala, she stated: “The ILO is proud to support the NLC in its pursuit of gender equality in the world of work. This remains a core objective within the global Sustainable Development Goals.”
