Organised labour has announced July 2026 as the starting point for re-negotiating a new National Minimum Wage with the federal government, declaring the current ₦70,000 benchmark no longer tenable given prevailing economic conditions.
The position was jointly stated by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at a press conference on the sidelines of the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
Labour acknowledged that state governors have come to recognise the inadequacy of the existing wage floor but cautioned them against rushing to propose figures outside the established negotiation process.
The unions also commended the federal government for reinstating gratuity payments, while calling on authorities to ensure that outstanding arrears are settled.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of a push by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) for a new national minimum wage of ₦100,000. NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said the governors endorsed the figure in recognition of the need to improve workers’ welfare amid rising living costs, adding that state governments are actively engaging with both the federal government and labour unions toward a sustainable agreement.
AbdulRazaq also stated that the governors threw their support behind the economic reform agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The July negotiation timeline is expected to shape the broader conversation around wages, inflation, and economic policy in the months ahead.
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