The Nigeria Labour Congress has said it will commence negotiations for a fresh national minimum wage by July 2026, while also demanding that workers across the country be paid 100 per cent of their basic salaries pending the conclusion of the talks.

The demand formed part of a joint May Day address delivered on Sunday at Eagle Square, Abuja, by NLC President Joe Ajaero and President of the Trade Union Congress Festus Osifo.

Speaking before thousands of workers during the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration, the labour leaders said the proposed wage review had become necessary because of worsening economic hardship, inflation, insecurity, and the declining purchasing power of Nigerian workers.

“As part of this resolve, we announce that the process for renegotiating the National Minimum Wage, which expires early next year, will commence by July 2026, to avoid the painful delays of the past,” the labour leaders said in the jointly delivered speech.

The minimum wage in Nigeria, set at N70,000, was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on July 29, 2024. This amendment to the 2019 Act followed extensive negotiations between the federal government, organised labour, and the private sector to address the rising cost of living.

Despite the enactment of national minimum wage laws, implementation across Nigeria has consistently faced significant obstacles. The labour union urged workers to unite behind the demand for what they described as a truly living wage that reflects prevailing economic realities.

“In addition to this and with your support, we demand that from July of this year, every worker be paid 100 per cent of his basic salary till the new national minimum wage is signed into law to cushion the effects of the renewed crisis of survival facing Nigerian workers,” they added.

The labour centres used the May Day celebration to paint a grim picture of the country’s economic condition, arguing that official statistics did not reflect the hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians.

According to the unions, poverty has continued to deepen despite reported economic growth, while inflation, unemployment, and insecurity have worsened living conditions for workers and their families.

The labour leaders said the economy appeared to be working only for a small elite, rather than the majority of citizens. “We are told that GDP growth may reach about 3.6 per cent, driven largely by the service sector, yet the poverty rate continues to rise to about 65 per cent of the population,” the speech stated. “It is not getting better. It is getting worse.”

The unions also criticised what they described as excessive taxation on workers and poor Nigerians, calling on the federal government to grant tax reliefs to cushion the impact of rising living costs and global economic pressures. “Stop taxing the minimum wage. Stop taxing the poor,” the labour leaders said.

The NLC and TUC further linked worsening economic conditions to insecurity across the country, warning that the situation was affecting productivity, livelihoods, and national development.

The unions said workers were increasingly unsafe travelling to work or carrying out their daily activities, citing attacks, kidnappings, and killings in several states.

“Nigerian workers may no longer continue going to work with this level of insecurity, and as we study the situation, we may be forced to advise our members across the nation to limit their movements and stay at home to avoid being kidnapped, abducted, or killed,” the labour leaders warned.

They also accused some state governments of failing to fully implement the provisions of the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act despite improved revenues, noting that some workers marked the 2026 May Day celebration through protests rather than festivities.

Beyond wage issues, the unions criticised developments within key democratic institutions, including the National Assembly and judiciary, warning that declining institutional independence and accountability could undermine democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The labour centres also faulted the state of the power sector, rising fuel prices, the condition of public research institutions, and what they described as persistent attacks on workers’ rights in both the public and private sectors.

Despite the challenges, the labour leaders said the movement remained united and prepared to intensify engagements with employers and government authorities to defend workers’ welfare.

They also announced the launch of a nationwide anti-corruption campaign tagged “Stop the Bleeding”, aimed at drawing attention to illicit financial flows and alleged misuse of public resources.

The May Day event drew workers from different sectors, including healthcare, education, aviation, manufacturing, telecommunications, and the civil service, among others.