Organized labour has called on the Nigerian government to implement yearly adjustments to the national minimum wage, citing the need to reflect rising inflation. Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Festus Osifo emphasized that waiting three or five years for wage increases no longer aligns with economic realities.
Osifo proposed linking annual wage reviews to the inflation rate published by the National Bureau of Statistics. For instance, he suggested applying a 35% inflation rate to the current ₦70,000 minimum wage to maintain its real value. This approach, he argued, would ensure that workers’ earnings keep pace with the cost of living.
The TUC and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have already begun discussions to actualize this proposal. While the government recently adopted a three-year review cycle, labour leaders insist that systematic annual adjustments are essential to shield workers from the persistent erosion of purchasing power.