The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared its readiness for what it described as a major national struggle to secure a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s national minimum wage, insisting that the worsening economic situation has made an upward wage adjustment unavoidable.
The declaration was made on Sunday, July 19, 2026, by NLC President Joe Ajaero during the commissioning of the Godwin Abumisi Pensioners Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja, where he also announced that organised labour would campaign for the establishment of a national minimum pension for retirees.
Ajaero said the labour movement had entered the preparatory phase of what would become a nationwide campaign to ensure Nigerian workers receive a new minimum wage that reflects current economic realities.
“We are currently in the preparatory stages for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage,” Ajaero said.
He stressed that the welfare of retirees should no longer be separated from discussions about workers’ welfare, noting that pensioners remain an integral part of the organised labour movement.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress will not only push for a new national minimum wage but will also demand the establishment of a national minimum pension.”
“It is a historical injustice that men and women who devoted their youth, strength and productive years to the service of this nation should be condemned to live below the poverty line after retirement,” he added.
According to Ajaero, the soaring cost of living has continued to erode workers’ purchasing power, with food prices, transportation costs and healthcare expenses placing enormous pressure on both active workers and pensioners.
He urged members of organised labour and retirees to prepare for what he described as the ideological and economic battles ahead, assuring them that the NLC would continue to prioritise their welfare.
The NLC president noted that the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, an affiliate of the Congress, shares the same struggle with workers, making it necessary for future negotiations with the government to address both wages and pensions simultaneously.
The renewed agitation comes as organised labour intensifies preparations for the statutory review of the national minimum wage introduced under the National Minimum Wage Act signed into law in July 2024.
The law increased the national minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 per month and provided for reviews every three years instead of the previous five-year cycle, making 2026 the next review period.
Earlier in June, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress announced plans to commence formal renegotiation of the minimum wage with the Federal Government in July 2026, arguing that inflation and rising living costs had significantly reduced the value of the current ₦70,000 wage.
Although the Congress did not announce any strike date or industrial action, the latest declaration signals that organised labour is preparing for another round of negotiations with the Federal Government over workers’ welfare, with pension reform now added to its list of key demands.