As Nigeria marks the 2025 May Day celebration, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) across state chapters have raised alarm over the deteriorating condition of workers, calling for an immediate upward review of the proposed N70,000 minimum wage.
Their demands come on the heels of soaring inflation, rising food prices, and the aftermath of key economic reforms initiated by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, notably the removal of fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the naira.
Despite President Tinubu’s earlier promise of not just a minimum wage but a “living wage,” labour leaders said Nigerian workers have become significantly worse off since he assumed office.
TUC Chairman in Bayelsa State, Comrade Julius Laye, speaking to The PUNCH in Yenagoa, lamented that the current economic realities had rendered the N70,000 wage “grossly inadequate,” citing the skyrocketing cost of living and the decline in purchasing power.
Echoing similar concerns, union leaders across other states accused the government of failing to prioritize the welfare of its workforce, warning that continued neglect could provoke more unrest in the labour sector.
Meanwhile, Senate President Godswill Akpabio assured workers that both the legislative and executive arms were committed to addressing their grievances, stating that the government would not “shirk its responsibility” in creating a path to economic prosperity.
Yet, on ground, the mood among workers remained bleak, as unions pointed out that May Day 2025 had arrived with little to celebrate.
