The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have announced plans to reopen negotiations with the Federal Government on a new national minimum wage ahead of the 2026 review deadline.
The position was made known in a joint address presented at the 114th International Labour Conference in Geneva on Monday. The labour unions also firmly opposed any move to tax the national minimum wage or introduce additional financial burdens on low-income workers.
According to the labour leaders, formal discussions with the Federal Government will commence before the July 2026 wage review date to avoid the delays that have characterised previous minimum wage negotiations.
The unions expressed concern over the worsening economic situation, noting that rising inflation has significantly reduced workers’ purchasing power and made it increasingly difficult for many Nigerians to meet their basic needs.
Nigeria’s current national minimum wage of N70,000 was signed into law on July 18, 2024, following an agreement between organised labour and the Federal Government. President Bola Tinubu officially announced the new wage on July 19, 2024, and it came into effect on July 29, 2024.
While the agreement initially provided for a three-year review cycle, the Federal Government revised the framework in January 2025, reducing the review period to two years and making 2026 the next scheduled wage review date.
