NASU Urges FG To Review Minimum Wage, Ease Economic Hardship

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has called on the Federal Government to urgently review the national minimum wage and introduce measures to reduce the economic hardship facing Nigerian workers and their families.

The union expressed concern over rising food prices, fuel costs, transportation fares, electricity tariffs, housing rents and healthcare expenses, warning that workers’ salaries are increasingly insufficient to meet their basic needs.

NASU President, Dr Makolo Hassan, made the call in his welcome address at the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting holding in Abuja from Tuesday, October 13, to Wednesday, October 14, 2026.

Hassan described the current minimum wage of ₦70,000 as inadequate, given the rising cost of living across the country. He said the union would continue to advocate for a living wage that would enable workers and their families to enjoy decent living conditions and financial security.

According to him, although the ₦70,000 minimum wage represented a significant achievement for workers, worsening economic conditions had greatly reduced its purchasing power.

He said increases in petrol prices, food costs, transportation, housing, electricity and other essential commodities had made it difficult for many Nigerian workers to provide for their families.

The NASU president urged the Federal Government to begin an immediate review of the minimum wage and introduce regular wage adjustments to protect workers against inflation and the rising cost of living.

He stressed that economic reforms should improve the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians rather than worsen poverty and inequality.

Hassan noted that the success of government policies should be measured by their impact on citizens’ daily lives, rather than the positive figures or assessments reported by economic institutions.

He said food, transportation, rent, school fees, medicines and electricity continued to consume a significant portion of workers’ earnings, leaving many households struggling to meet their basic needs.

Citing food inflation of 19.57 per cent in July 2026, Hassan identified access to affordable food as one of the union’s major concerns.

He called for increased support for farmers, improved security in farming communities and greater investment in local food production, storage and transportation infrastructure.

The union president also expressed concern over projections that nearly 35 million Nigerians could face acute and severe food insecurity during the 2026 lean season.

He warned that the situation should be treated as a national emergency, adding that workers who contribute to the country’s economic development should not struggle to provide food for their families.

On fuel prices, Hassan said the consequences of petrol pricing and subsidy removal continued to affect households and businesses. He explained that increases in fuel costs often lead to higher transportation fares, food prices and production expenses, placing additional pressure on workers’ incomes.

He urged the government to ensure that domestic refining translated into measurable reductions in the cost of living instead of merely improving economic statistics or increasing the profits of operators.

Hassan also called for measures to protect households and businesses from the effects of fluctuations in international oil prices and exchange rates.

He advocated the expansion of affordable and reliable public transportation, including buses, rail services and other mass transit systems.

He further called for a proper assessment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiatives and other government intervention programmes to determine whether they were providing meaningful relief to workers.

According to him, Nigerian workers should not be expected to bear the heaviest burden of economic reforms while receiving inadequate protection from their consequences.

On electricity, the NASU president criticised the rising cost of power and called for affordable electricity for households and businesses.

He demanded universal metering, an end to arbitrary estimated billing and a fair electricity tariff system that prioritises service delivery and citizens’ welfare.

Hassan maintained that Nigerians should not be forced to pay higher electricity bills without corresponding improvements in power supply.

He also urged the government to introduce affordable housing schemes, improve access to mortgage facilities and protect workers from unreasonable increases in rent.

Addressing unemployment, the union president expressed concern over youth unemployment, underemployment, casualisation and the declining productive capacity of the Nigerian economy.

He called for a comprehensive national employment strategy that would prioritise technical and vocational education, apprenticeship programmes, industrial skills development and the creation of secure and decent jobs.

Hassan further urged the government to address the challenges facing businesses, particularly factory closures and the high costs of electricity, transportation, raw materials and credit.

He said the survival and expansion of productive enterprises were essential to creating sustainable employment opportunities and improving the economy.

The NASU president also called for improved healthcare services, adequate funding for public education, prompt payment of pensions and gratuities, and stronger social protection programmes for vulnerable Nigerians.

He emphasised the need for transparency and accountability in the management of public resources, insisting that increased revenue allocations to state and local governments should translate into timely salary payments, improved public services, better infrastructure and stronger social welfare programmes.

On industrial relations, Hassan reaffirmed the union’s commitment to collective bargaining, freedom of association and the protection of workers’ rights.

He warned employers against intimidating or victimising workers and adopting practices intended to weaken trade unions.

The union president also highlighted the effects of insecurity, particularly attacks on farmers and rural communities, on agricultural production, food supply, workers’ safety and national productivity.

He called for stronger security measures to address banditry, kidnapping and insurgency, which continue to threaten livelihoods and economic activities in affected areas.

As Nigeria approaches the 2027 political transition, Hassan urged organised labour to make workers’ welfare a central issue in national discussions.

He said political candidates and their programmes should be assessed based on their commitments to living wages, decent employment, security, industrialisation and quality public services.

Hassan also called on members of NASU’s National Executive Council to remain united and committed to protecting the interests of their members.