Labour demands salary review, says real wages have collapsed

Organised labour, on Thursday, May 1, 2025, called on the Federal Government to immediately adjust the salaries of workers across Nigeria.

The labour hinged the call on the economic hardship and inability of millions of Nigerians to feed and cater for themselves and families, as a result of high inflation, tax bills, and other policies of the government.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, and his Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) counterpart, Comrade Festus Osifo, made the call at a joint address delivered at the Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle square in Abuja.

The unions asked the federal government to immediately suspend the State of Emergency declared by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State, saying it is unconstitutional in a democratic setting.

The labour urged Tinubu to demonstrate bold leadership by initiating a broad-based and inclusive electoral reform process to reform Nigeria’s electoral and governance architecture.

While lamenting that real wages have collapsed in Nigeria, the labour said workers must be prepared to push back against policies that enrich the elite while impoverishing the masses, resist policies that hike the cost of living while leaving wages stagnant, and hold leaders accountable for the suffering inflicted on the masses.

The labour said: “We make the following demands: An urgent reversal of the unconstitutional suspension of the elected Government of Rivers State via a State of Emergency which is alien to our laws.

“That the federal and state governments should cease actions that erode the civic space but should encourage and deepen it for the sake of our nation.

“An immediate salary adjustment in sync with Economic realities That Government explains what exactly it is taxing in the PAYEE.

“The withdrawal of the Tax Bills before the National Assembly to allow Nigerian workers sit at table where it is being conceived
An immediate implementation of the reduction of telco tariff from 50% to 35% as agreed.

“A living wage, fair taxation, and an end to policies that prioritize corporate profits over workers’ survival. Transparent governance, electoral reforms, and an end to the suppression of dissent.

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“Energy, infrastructure, and essential services must serve the people, not private interests. Regulators must work for the people!

“An end to the genocidal killings and bloodletting across the nation.

“Safe workplaces, the right to organize, and protection from state and employer violence.

“An expansion of NLAC’s activities and increasing the meeting periods. That the indiscriminate Registration of new Unions in areas with proper coverage should stop
Immediate payment of all outstanding Allowances, pensions and gratuities across the nation.

“Public servants, who served diligently for decades, deserve a dignified exit just like political office holders who serve for much shorter periods.

“It is imperative to extend the revised retirement age of 65 years or 40 years of service currently enjoyed by teachers, health professionals, and judges to all public servants.

“An end to dehumanizing verification exercises in the public service. An acceptable National Minimum Pension to guarantee dignity in retirement. Automatic adjustment of pensions to reflect inflationary trends.

“We call for a review of the Electricity Privatization exercise with the view to a reversal. A people united, can never be defeated!”

On the the theme, “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the Midst of Economic Hardship”, the labour leaders enjoined workers and Nigerians in general to stand up and defend democracy, push back against the forces of repression, and rebuild the nation on the foundations of justice and equity.

The Star