The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has called on the National Assembly (NASS) to collaborate with the tripartite committee on the new minimum wage to establish a system for regularly reviewing workers’ salaries.
Speaking at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) retreat on “Labour Reforms and the Quest for a Living Wage in Nigeria: A Focus on Legislative Interventions,” Ajaero emphasized the need for regular salary reviews to keep up with inflation and the cost of living.
Previously, Ajaero had urged that the national minimum wage be reviewed annually to help workers cope with economic hardships in the country.
In his speech in Abuja, Ajaero encouraged legislators to update labour laws to reflect the current economic realities and to protect workers. He stated:
“We call on the National Assembly to join us in urging the executive to submit to the Assembly the bill on the reviewed labour administration laws, which had gone through the tripartite process some years back but seems to have been stalled by the executive.
“NASS should work with the tripartite committee to establish mechanisms for regular and systematic review of wage levels to ensure they keep pace with inflation and the cost of living.
“Workers are not beggars nor slaves. We create wealth and deserve a fair share of it. The current dissatisfaction in the country can only be alleviated by providing reasonable income to Nigerian people and workers.”
Ajaero also urged lawmakers to focus on strengthening social security systems to provide a safety net for workers during economic hardships, unemployment, or health emergencies. He highlighted the importance of laws that encourage continuous investment in education and vocational training to equip the workforce with necessary skills for a dynamic job market.
