By Seun Ibiyemi
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed N70,000 wage award, demanding an immediate salary increase for workers and the implementation of outstanding agreements with health workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
The congress argued that temporary wage awards were inadequate to address the rising cost of living, insisting that the government should implement a permanent salary increase rather than introduce relief measures that might not reach all workers or be paid consistently.
It proposed that the Federal Government raise the salary of the lowest-paid worker to N300,000 from the current N70,000, alongside appropriate consequential adjustments for other salary levels.
The TUC made its position known in a statement issued on Wednesday by its President, Festus Osifo, and Secretary-General, N.A. Toro, following a National Administrative Council meeting held in Abuja on October 8, 2026.
The congress said it had written to the Federal Government through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, requesting an immediate salary review to cushion the effects of rising living costs.
According to the labour union, the government does not need to wait for negotiations on the national minimum wage before increasing workers’ salaries, arguing that there is no legal ceiling on the wages employers can pay.
“The Federal Government should review increasing workers’ salaries. This was hinged on the fact that the government does not require the minimum wage to be negotiated before increasing workers’ pay, as there is no maximum wage law in the country,” the statement said.
The TUC maintained that ongoing negotiations on the national minimum wage should not prevent the government from taking urgent steps to improve workers’ earnings amid rising food, transportation, healthcare and other essential expenses.
It said its leadership had held consultations with government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, during which it rejected the proposed wage award.
The congress also questioned the credibility of another temporary wage arrangement, alleging that the previous wage award negotiated between the Federal Government and organised labour in October 2023 had not been fully implemented.
“The wage award agreed between FGN and organised labour on the 2nd of October 2023 was to be implemented until a minimum wage was agreed in 2024 but was never implemented holistically,” it said.
The TUC alleged that some workers were still owed one or two months of payments, while others had not received the allowance at all.
It further claimed that payments to some beneficiaries were irregular, with workers sometimes waiting one or two months between payments and repeatedly demanding their entitlements.
The congress also alleged that more than 80 per cent of states and workers in the informal sector had not benefited from any form of wage award.
“How do we go back to the same wage award that never benefited all workers? How can workers be expected to trust fresh promises when previous obligations remain outstanding?” it asked.
The TUC argued that a permanent salary increase would provide more reliable relief than temporary allowances, which it said had failed to benefit workers uniformly.
“Negotiations of a new national minimum wage must not become an excuse for postponing urgent pay increment,” the congress stated.
Beyond the wage award dispute, the congress accused the Federal Government of neglecting a seven-month-old agreement concerning the adjustment of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure for health workers under JOHESU.
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It called for the implementation of outstanding commitments to the health workers, stressing the need for the government to honour agreements reached with organised labour.
The congress said unresolved wage and salary issues had deepened concerns about the government’s handling of labour agreements and its ability to deliver on fresh commitments.
The TUC also urged federal, state and local governments to introduce measurable interventions to reduce the cost of essential goods and services.
It called for the timely payment of salaries and pensions, protection of existing jobs, an end to exploitative labour practices and the revitalisation of the productive sector to generate decent employment.
According to the congress, economic hardship affects not only federal government employees but also state and local government workers, pensioners, private-sector employees and people operating in the informal economy.
It stressed that government interventions must be adequately funded, supported by clear implementation timelines and designed to deliver tangible improvements in Nigerians’ living conditions.
The congress maintained that announcements of relief measures would have little impact unless they translated into consistent payments, improved purchasing power and a meaningful reduction in the financial pressure on workers and their families.
