TUC Urges Nigerian Government to Review Workers’ Salaries and Allowances Amid Rising Inflation and Cost of Living in 2026

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has called on all levels of government to urgently review and increase workers’ salaries and allowances in response to the rising cost of living and persistent inflation affecting Nigerian workers.

In a statement issued on Monday by President Festus Osifo and General Secretary Nuhu Toro, the TUC expressed concern that workers’ purchasing power has been significantly eroded, emphasizing that the review of allowances should serve as an immediate relief measure ahead of the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage in 2027.

The union warned that workers should not bear the brunt of economic reforms without safeguards and urged them to remain united and vigilant in defending their rights and welfare. The TUC reaffirmed its commitment to building a strong, solidarity-based labour movement capable of advocating for workers and protecting their interests across Nigeria.

New Nigeria Tax Law 2026: What Every Salary Earner Must Know Before January

Nigeria’s new Tax Act 2025 will take effect on January 1, 2026, introducing major changes for salary earners, freelancers, and mixed-income workers. The reform expands the tax base, clarifies taxable income, and sets new rules for deductions. Workers earning the national minimum wage (₦800,000 yearly or less) and military personnel are exempt. Taxable income now includes salaries, bonuses, allowances, and certain benefits-in-kind such as housing and cars.
The Act provides clearer deductions for both employees and freelancers, including pension, NHF, insurance, and business expenses for self-employed individuals. Taxes will be applied progressively across income bands, and individuals with both salary and business income must consolidate all earnings before taxation. Experts say the reform aims to simplify compliance, encourage proper record-keeping, and ensure fairness across income levels.
With the new rules, salary earners must verify payroll deductions, while freelancers should maintain proper financial records to avoid penalties. The government has also provided digital platforms to make tax payment easier nationwide.

Gov Alia approves implementation of unions’ demands at Benue varsityNewsGov Alia approves implementation of unions’ demands at Benue varsity.

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has approved the immediate implementation of the demands made by striking workers of the Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, Benue State.

This followed negotiations between the government team led by the Secretary to the State Government, Deaconess Serumun Deborah Aber; the institution’s management, led by the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Simon Terver Ubwa; and the university-based unions—ASUU, SSANU, NASU, and NAAT—culminating in a Memorandum of Agreement.

The visitor to the university, Rev. Fr. Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia, approved the implementation of the contentious issues that had caused industrial disharmony since 2018 with immediate effect.

This was contained in a letter dated October 31, 2025, duly signed by the Permanent Secretary (General Services) on behalf of the Secretary to the State Government.

According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Registrar of the institution, Barnabas Hema, he enumerated the approved demands to include “immediate and complete implementation of the newly approved minimum wage template as presented by the unions.

“Immediate payment of arrears of the minimum wage from November 2023 to date; proper placement and payment of salary entitlements to previously promoted staff of the university. This is with immediate effect, starting with October 2025 salaries.”

He said the government is committed to the payment of arrears of all deferred promotion entitlements to deserving staff.

Hema added that the accumulated promotion entitlements from 2018 would be defrayed at a later date

Nigerian Federal Workers Demand Payment Of Wage Arrears, Salary Harmonisation.

The forum noted that the ₦35,000 wage award was introduced as a cost of living allowance after the removal of fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the naira.

The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) has called on the President Bola Tinubu-led government to immediately pay the outstanding three months wage award owed to federal workers, harmonise salaries across the public service, and improve welfare conditions.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday and signed by Comrade Andrew Emelieze, the National Coordinator, the workers group said the government’s failure to fulfill its wage obligations had caused severe hardship among its workforce.

“The refusal of the federal government to pay up the balance of the outstanding three months wage award as promised by the Accountant General of the Federation has shown clearly how our government has been treating her workers. Same also has been the case for so many backlog of arrears owed the federal workers especially promotion arrears, in some cases over ten years backlog owed the federal workers in Nigeria,” the statement read.

The forum noted that the ₦35,000 wage award was introduced as a cost of living allowance after the removal of fuel subsidy and the devaluation of the naira. However, the group accused the government of inconsistent and delayed payments.

“Our government eventually decided to give a paltry sum of ₦35,000 to all federal workers irrespective of their grade levels."

"The payment since it's implementation has been inconsistent and staggering, most times it has taken the Federal Workers Forum to cry out before payments are made. As a matter of facts , the federal government has been very unfaithful in the payment of the wage award, thus the purpose of setting up the wage award to cushion the horrible effects of fuel subsidy removal has been defeated.”

According to the forum, the payment of wage awards stopped in February 2024 following the implementation of the new national minimum wage in August 2024. At that time, the government owed workers five months of wage awards covering March to July 2024.

Presidency Dismisses World Bank Report Claiming 139 Million Nigerians Live in Poverty.

The Presidency has rejected the World Bank’s recent report estimating that 139 million Nigerians are living in poverty, describing the figure as exaggerated and disconnected from the nation’s current economic reality.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, said the World Bank’s assessment must be “properly contextualised” within the limitations of global poverty measurement frameworks.

“While Nigeria values its partnership with the World Bank and acknowledges its contributions to policy discussions, the figure quoted must be properly contextualised. It is unrealistic,” Dare stated.

According to the Presidency, the 139 million figure was derived using the global poverty benchmark of $2.15 per person per day, a standard set in 2017 under Purchasing Power Parity (PPP). It clarified that the measure does not represent an actual headcount of poor Nigerians.

The statement explained that when converted to nominal terms, the $2.15 benchmark equates to roughly ₦100,000 per month at the current exchange rate, far above Nigeria’s new minimum wage of ₦70,000 making the figure “an analytical model, not a direct reflection of local realities.”

“The World Bank’s poverty estimate should not be interpreted as a literal or real-time headcount. It’s based on an outdated PPP model using Nigeria’s last major consumption survey from 2018/19 and largely ignores the informal and subsistence sectors that sustain millions of households,” the Presidency said.

It added that the government views the report as a “global projection” rather than an accurate picture of living conditions in 2025, stressing that Nigeria’s economy is now on a recovery path.

The Minimum Wage Has Been Increased" - Akpabio Reveals What They're Planning For Civil Servants.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has assured Nigerians, particularly civil servants, that the federal government is committed to improving welfare and creating a more supportive environment for workers across the country.

In an interview on Viable TV, Akpabio highlighted the resilience of Nigeria over the past 65 years, noting that the nation has endured a civil war, insecurity, and economic challenges yet continues to move forward. He said Nigeria’s survival was not by human effort alone but by the grace of God, stressing that the country’s progress is worth celebrating.

The Senate President outlined some of the reforms initiated by the administration, which he believes are directly impacting the lives of ordinary Nigerians. According to him, “The minimum wage has been increased.” He explained that the government is not only focused on raising wages but also improving the working environment for public workers, ensuring they remain motivated and productive.

He also spoke about tax reforms, pointing out that those earning less than one million naira annually are now exempt from taxation. This, he said, has provided relief for market women, artisans, and low-income workers. In addition, Akpabio praised advancements in education funding, healthcare accessibility, and infrastructure development, describing them as signs that the country is gradually transforming.

On the issue of security, Akpabio lauded the sacrifices of men and women in uniform, noting that despite global terrorism trends, Nigeria has remained united. He also emphasized that investments in road projects, telecommunications, and agriculture would further strengthen the economy and provide more opportunities for Nigerians.

Concluding, Akpabio urged citizens to be patient with ongoing reforms, assuring them that the administration’s policies are laying the groundwork for a more prosperous and stable nation.

Peter Obi Slams Govs Public Conduct After Meeting Atlanta Mayor During US Trip.

Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, compared leadership in Nigeria and the US, criticising Nigerian officials for flashy displays of power despite having much smaller budgets.

In a post on X on Thursday, Obi recounted his ongoing three-day trip to the US, which took him to Atlanta, Washington, and Chicago.

He noted that Atlanta, with a city budget of around $3 billion, generates more revenue than Nigeria’s national budget, yet its mayor, Andre Dickens, maintains a modest public profile.

Obi revealed that he travelled with Mayor Dickens on the same flight from Atlanta to Washington and observed no special treatment for the mayor.

“He boarded and disembarked like every other passenger, without aides carrying bags, announcements, sirens, or entourages,” Obi said.

He further contrasted this with Nigeria, stating: “In Nigeria, governors—most of whom oversee budgets smaller than Atlanta’s—and even local government chairmen, whose allocations are less than 1% of Atlanta’s, would have constituted a public nuisance with sirens, protocol officers, endless announcements, large entourages, and posters everywhere.”

Obi argued that Nigerian leaders must change their public conduct and focus on service delivery, pointing to Dickens’ priorities of crime reduction, youth empowerment, and a minimum wage of $15 per hour for council workers as examples of effective, humble leadership.

Nationwide blackout looms as Nigerian electricity workers begin strike.

Nigerians may experience blackout in the coming days as the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, commenced a strike action on Wednesday over non-implementation of the national minimum wage, casualisation of workers and other demands.

The industrial action was disclosed in a notice signed by the Acting General Secretary of NUEE, Dominic Igwebike, on Wednesday.

The union said its decision to commence the strike action follows the expiration of the ultimatum issued to the Management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria,TCN, over its demands.

NUEE said it cannot fold its hands while the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry, NESI, goes down the drain, hence the justification for the strike action.

“It is unfortunate that the TCN Management has decided to handle these issues with kid gloves and a lack of regard for the hard-working staff of TCN. This, they have displayed without any defined road map(s) to addressing them.

“We cannot continue to fold our arms while we watch our rights being vehemently violated and the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) going down the drain. To this end, the Union is compelled to withdraw its services.

“Members are hereby directed to withdraw services until such time that the management is ready to discharge its obligations towards the workforce,” the notice reads.

The union had downed tools in June 2024, leading to a disruption in electricity supply.

Nationwide blackout looms as electricity workers embark on strike.

Nigeria faces the risk of a nationwide blackout as the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) commenced an indefinite strike on Wednesday over unresolved labor issues.

The union said the action was prompted by the federal government’s failure to implement the national minimum wage, persistent casualisation of workers, and other unaddressed demands.

In a notice signed by NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, the union stated that the strike followed the expiration of its ultimatum to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

NUEE criticized the TCN management for what it described as a lack of seriousness in addressing workers’ grievances, warning that the electricity supply industry is being pushed “down the drain.”

“It is unfortunate that TCN management has chosen to treat these matters with levity, showing no clear plan to resolve them. We cannot continue to watch while our rights are violated and the power sector deteriorates. Consequently, members are directed to withdraw their services until management fulfills its obligations,” the statement read.

Our Truck Drivers Earn More Than Nigerian Graduates — Billionaire Aliko Dangote.

Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Group, has disclosed that drivers employed by his company earn higher salaries than many Nigerian graduates.

In a video shared on TVC’s X handle on Tuesday, Dangote addressed allegations by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which recently accused him and Sayyu Dantata of anti-union practices and attempts to monopolise Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas distribution sector. The union had also threatened a nationwide strike from September 8 in protest against the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks by Dangote Refinery.

Dangote dismissed fears of job losses, stressing that the newly launched trucks would instead create about 24,000 jobs, with each vehicle requiring six personnel.

He added that drivers under his company earn nearly three to four times the national minimum wage, with some making more than graduates.

He further explained that after five years of accident-free service, drivers become eligible for housing loans.

“Our drivers earn more than graduates. If you check their monthly pay, it’s almost four times the minimum wage,” Dangote said.

NLC Demands Urgent Review of ₦70,000 Minimum Wage, Says it No Longer Meets Basic Needs

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and federal government workers have called for an immediate review of the national minimum wage, arguing that the current ₦70,000 can no longer meet basic needs.

Their demand comes after several states increased workers’ salaries beyond the ₦70,000 benchmark to cushion the effects of rising living costs.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), union leaders and workers stressed that soaring inflation, escalating food prices, transportation costs, rent, and other essential expenses have made the wage unsustainable.

President Bola Tinubu had in July 2024 signed the new National Minimum Wage Bill into law, raising it from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000. The law covers federal, state, and local governments, as well as the private sector.

With the rising cost of living in the country and the adverse impact on Nigerians, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has said that state governments have no excuse not to pay civil servants above the ₦70,000 minimum wage.

NLC Demands ₦150,000 Minimum Wage For Lagos Workers

The Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for a new minimum wage of ₦150,000, citing the high cost of living in the state.

Chairperson Funmi Sesi said Lagos workers, who currently earn ₦85,000, deserve higher pay in line with increases recently implemented in Imo and Ebonyi states.

She argued that the state’s high cost of accommodation, transport, feeding, and utilities makes the demand necessary, expressing optimism that other states would follow suit.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo recently raised the minimum wage for state workers to ₦104,000, while Ebonyi increased its own to ₦90,000.

The Ebonyi State Government has approved a new minimum wage of ₦90,000 for civil and public servants, up from ₦70,000. The increase, which takes immediate effect, was announced after the State Executive Council meeting in Abakaliki.

Commissioner for Information Ikeuwa Collins-Omebeh said the decision reflects Governor Francis Nwifuru’s People’s Charter of Needs Agenda, prioritizing workers’ welfare.

The council also approved the establishment of the Ebonyi State Virology Research and Innovative Centre to enhance research, diagnosis, and surveillance of viral diseases.

#MinimumWage #EbonyiState #WorkersWelfare

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos Zone, has demanded that the Federal Government pay lecturers a living wage instead of a minimum wage, citing harsh economic realities.

Lagos Zonal Coordinator, Adesola Nassir, said at a press briefing that members are still owed promotion arrears of up to four years, wage awards, and palliatives, despite several meetings with government agencies.

Nassir warned that ASUU could embark on a nationwide strike if demands remain unmet, stressing that Nigerians should hold the government accountable. He also criticized the government for undermining university autonomy and making academic support loans largely inaccessible.

#ASUU #Education #Nigeria #LivingWage #Strike #BreakingNews

Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has approved a new minimum wage of N104,000 for civil servants in the state.

Imo State Governor, Sen. Uzodimma, Approves N104,000 New Minimum Wage Structure for Imo Workers, Increases Doctors’ Pay to N533,000.

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has approved a new minimum wage of N104,000 for civil servants in the state. According to TVC News, the governor made the announcement during a meeting with the state’s labour force at the Government House, Owerri.

He also disclosed that medical doctors in the state civil service will now earn N533,000 as their monthly salary. According to Uzodimma, the upward wage review was made possible by increased internally generated revenue and higher federal allocations.

He noted that the revised salary structure is designed to stimulate the state’s economy while enhancing the morale and productivity of workers. In addition, the governor revealed that his administration has set aside N16 billion to clear outstanding gratuity arrears owed to pensioners in the state.

Imo Governor Approves New Minimum Wage: N104,000 For Civil Servants, N503,000 For Doctors

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has approved a new minimum wage of N104,000 for civil servants, up from N76,000, citing current economic realities.

Doctors’ minimum wage also rose from N215,000 to N503,000, while tertiary institution teachers will now earn a minimum of N222,000.

Announcing the new wage package during a meeting with labour leaders in Owerri, Uzodimma said improved welfare would boost productivity, stimulate the local economy, and strengthen relations with organised labour.

The governor also revealed that Imo’s Internally Generated Revenue has grown from N400m to over N3bn monthly, while the state’s debt profile has dropped below N100bn. He further announced that the state will begin payment of the last batch of N16bn gratuities owed pensioners on August 27.

#ImoState #MinimumWage #HopeUzodimma

BREAKING: The Imo State Governor has approved a new wage structure, raising the minimum wage for civil servants to ₦104,000.

Entry-level doctors will now earn ₦513,000, while new lecturers will receive ₦222,000. In addition, senior citizens and pensioners are set to begin receiving the next batch of gratuity payments starting tomorrow.

‘Wrong Timing,’ Joe Abah Faults Proposed Pay Rise For Politicians

Former Bureau of Public Enterprises DG, Joe Abah, has criticised the planned review of salaries for political office holders, describing the move as ill-timed and insensitive.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily, Abah said the government had not shown fiscal discipline, citing Nigeria’s largest-ever cabinet and the proliferation of agencies. He argued that announcing pay increases for politicians amid economic hardship and a new ₦70,000 minimum wage sends the wrong signal.

He also highlighted distortions in the public sector pay system, stressing that they must be addressed before any salary adjustments.

The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) recently said politicians’ earnings, unchanged since 2008, were “inadequate and outdated.” But the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) rejected the proposal, calling it insensitive and warning it could worsen poverty and inequality.

#Nigeria #Politics #JoeAbah #NLC