The Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), has called on the Federal Government to urgently review workers’ wages in 2026, blaming rising inflation and increasing hardship faced by workers across the country.
In his New Year message to workers yesterdau January 1, 2026, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said salaries must reflect a living wage and not just be enough to survive.
“Given the escalating inflation and suffering, we demand an urgent wage review as a worker’s income must guarantee life, not mere survival, in furtherance of Mr. President’s promise to pay living wages. We shall pursue this with every legitimate means at our disposal”, Ajaero said.
He described 2025 as a very difficult year for workers, noting that economic pressure and hardship exposed many weaknesses in the system. “As we stand on the threshold of 2026, the Nigeria Labour Congress extends strong solidarity and firm fraternal greetings to every toiling hand and every citizen burdened by the weight of our current socioeconomic system. The past year was no doubt challenging, as well as exposed our vulnerabilities”, he stated.
“But they did little to dip our focus or resolve in our strive for national cohesion through equitable redistribution of wealth and social justice”, he added.
According to him, the new year brings careful optimism, following promises by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to engage labour more meaningfully. “We enter this new year not with naive hope, but with a fortified resolve, strengthened by struggle and clarity. The promises of a more faithful and meaningful engagement from the Federal Government as pledged by the President… have opened a potential vista for dialogue”, he noted.
Ajaero warned that the NLC would stay alert and would mobilise workers if the government fails to meet its responsibilities. “Our duty is crystal clear; we must organise, mobilise, and hold every tier of government accountable. We will work with and support only those governments and political actors who demonstrate, through clear, pro-people plans and actionable commitments, a genuine desire to uplift the masses from poverty and oppression”, he stated.
He also said Labour would resist political manipulation, and reject leaders who depend on empty promises and division. “We reject outright those mercantilistic politicians whose stock-in-trade are empty promises, divisive rhetoric, and policies that decimate our living standards for the benefit of a parasitic few”, he stated.
On security, Ajaero stressed that safety must remain a top priority for all levels of government, saying peace is essential for national stability.
