NLC rallies workers for major confrontation over living wage ahead of 2027 poll

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has launched an aggressive mobilization campaign, rallying Nigerian workers to prepare for major political and economic battles ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at the 2026 NLC Rain School in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, declared that the current N70,000 national minimum wage has deteriorated into a “poverty wage” due to soaring inflation, demanding an urgent transition to a true living wage.

Ajaero declared that the era of workers serving merely as voting blocs or passive spectators in Nigeria’s democracy must come to an end.

Instead, he urged organised labour to rediscover its collective strength and prepare to become what he described as the country’s “critical force for change.”

“The theme of this year’s school: The Working Class and the Politics of 2027, is deliberately chosen and profoundly strategic,” Ajaero said.

“It declares that we, the producers of the nation’s wealth, refuse to be passive observers in the political process.

“We are the engine of the economy, the hands that build this nation, and we will not be treated as mere objects of political manipulation.”

For Ajaero, the political significance of Nigeria’s workforce extends far beyond election-day voting.

He argued that workers possess enormous industrial and political influence but have failed to deploy it effectively over the years.

According to him, “While many of us workers may feel overwhelmed by rising inflation, stagnant wages and worsening living conditions, we remain the country’s greatest organised force.

“When you look at your payslip and see a pittance that cannot feed your family, when you see the cost of food, accommodation, transportation and healthcare spiralling out of control, it is easy to feel powerless.

“But you are not insignificant. You are the lifeblood of this nation. You are the critical force that can force change.”

The NLC President insisted that if workers remained united and organised, they could significantly influence the outcome of the 2027 general elections.

“The industrial and political power of a nation does not reside in its treasury or in political party offices. It resides in the palms of your hands and in the collective strength of your solidarity.

“If we make up our minds and act unitedly, we will be in a position to define outcomes in the 2027 general elections.”

Although the current national minimum wage stands at N70,000, Ajaero dismissed it as inadequate in the face of soaring inflation and the rising cost of living.

He said, “The battle for a living wage will soon begin in earnest. The paltry sum that currently passes for a wage can no longer be sustainable. It is a poverty wage.”

Rather than approaching negotiations from a position of weakness, he urged labour leaders to negotiate from a position of strength.

“We must not go to the negotiation table with a begging bowl. We must demand a wage that truly approximates a living wage—a wage that enables workers to feed, house, educate and care for their families with dignity,” Ajaero said.

He called on all NLC affiliates and state councils to begin mobilising immediately for what he described as one of labour’s defining struggles in the coming months.

Beyond wages, the Congress accused the Federal Government of deliberately delaying long-awaited labour reforms.

According to Ajaero, despite years of negotiations and consensus among government, employers and organised labour, the reviewed Labour Administration legislation has remained stalled for about six years without being transmitted to the National Assembly.

Ajaero said, “We have laboured, we have negotiated, and we have reached consensus. Why the delay? This six-year delay is a deliberate strategy to maintain the status quo of impunity and exploitation.

“A modern labour administration law is not a luxury. It is a necessity for protecting Nigerian workers and aligning our labour system with international best practices.”

He lamented that Nigeria remains among the countries where workers’ rights are routinely violated through restrictions on union activities, collective bargaining and industrial action.

𝕤𝕖𝕖 𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖/𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠 𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖