NLC President Decries Struggle for N70,000 Minimum Wage Amid Economic Hardship
The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has expressed concern over the difficulties in persuading state governors to implement the N70,000 minimum wage amid Nigeria’s worsening economic challenges.
Speaking on Tuesday at the 2024 Delegates’ Conference of the NLC Youth Council in Abuja, Ajaero painted a grim picture of the nation’s socioeconomic realities.
“Comrades, let us speak plainly. The harsh realities of our country cannot be sugar-coated. We live in a nation where the rich grow fatter on the sweat of the poor, where our youth struggle to find meaningful work, and where the value of labour is often trampled underfoot,” he said.
Highlighting the rising cost of living, Ajaero noted, “A bag of 50kg rice sells for N105,000, transport from Abuja to Port Harcourt costs over N50,000, decent housing has become a mirage, and basic healthcare is out of reach. Social services are increasingly elusive, and we are still struggling to compel some governors to pay a paltry N70,000 minimum wage—despite it being backed by law.”
He urged Nigerians to rise above the challenges with resilience and determination, emphasizing, “No one will build our nation for us.”
Ajaero also underlined the critical role of youth in revitalizing the labour movement. He announced plans to establish youth executive councils in every state to address youth-specific concerns and ensure their active participation in the labour movement.
Themed “Youth and the New World of Work: Imperative of a New Social Contract,” the conference aimed to inspire young Nigerians to champion fairness and justice in the evolving work landscape.
Concluding his address, Ajaero urged the youth to remain united and focused, pledging the NLC’s unwavering support to guide and stand by them in their efforts to create a better future.
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