Nigerian Labor Unions Demand Immediate Wage Increases Above Minimum

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) have called on the Nigerian government to increase worker salaries and allowances immediately. During a National Administrative Council meeting in Abuja, TUC President Festus Osifo argued that the N70,000 minimum wage established in 2024 is a statutory floor rather than a ceiling. He stated that the government can independently raise pay for the least-paid workers—potentially to N200,000 or N400,000—without waiting for the next statutory review in 2027.

Simultaneously, in Lagos, ASSBIFI commemorated the 2026 World Day for Decent Work by condemning the current wage as a stipend that fails to cover basic needs like housing and food. Acting National President Fanimokun Adesina described the inability of the minimum wage to provide three square meals for a family of four for two weeks as nothing but slavery.

Beyond wages, the TUC demanded that the Federal Ministry of Health resolve the Joint Health Sector Unions crisis and called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to strengthen the naira. In response to the broader labor unrest, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment announced it is pushing for a review of extant labor laws to make them more compatible with modern hybrid and flexible working arrangements.