The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised alarm over what it described as the worst survival crisis ever faced by Nigerian workers and the masses, blaming soaring inflation, worsening insecurity, poor wages and the collapse of social protection systems.
The labour union said Nigerian workers are now worse off than their counterparts in several African countries, including conflict-ridden nations such as Somalia and Sudan.
Speaking on the state of the nation, NLC President, Mr. Joe Ajaero, said the level of hardship currently being experienced by Nigerians surpasses what was recorded during the civil war and the era of austerity measures.
“Nigerians, especially Nigerian workers, are currently confronted with the worst survival crisis in the history of our nation — worse than the civil war years and even the era of austerity measures,” Ajaero said. “At the heart of this crisis lies the growing scourge of financial insecurity.”
According to him, Nigerian workers now rank at the bottom when compared to workers across Africa, noting that employment no longer guarantees survival.
“The natural order of life is that a person must eat to survive. But when work no longer provides adequate income to meet basic needs, survival becomes extremely difficult,” he said. “Daily existence has turned into a constant struggle, leaving workers stressed, insecure and unable to save, build assets or plan for the future.”
The NLC noted that the crisis of financial insecurity is unfolding alongside escalating physical insecurity across the country, including terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, which have disrupted livelihoods, displaced families and destroyed sources of income.
Ajaero stated that workers’ incomes have continued to decline despite increased productivity, as inflation — which exceeded 30 per cent in 2024 — continues to erode purchasing power.
“Real wages have stagnated or collapsed entirely,” he said. “Salaries in both the public and private sectors have failed to keep pace with inflation. The national minimum wage of N70,000 is grossly inadequate. The fact that a bag of rice now costs more than the minimum wage should trouble the conscience of any responsible leader.”
He added that the sharp depreciation of the naira has worsened the situation by driving up the cost of imported goods, fuel and essential services, while rising fuel prices have triggered increases in transportation and production costs.
According to the NLC, food inflation has become a major burden, with Nigerian households spending as much as 80 per cent of their monthly income on food alone, making proper nutrition increasingly inaccessible to workers.
The union also highlighted unemployment and underemployment as major contributors to the crisis, noting that a growing pool of desperate job seekers has forced wages down and expanded the informal economy, where jobs are often low-paying and insecure.
Ajaero lamented the weakness of Nigeria’s social safety nets, saying unemployment benefits, health insurance and pension coverage remain inadequate or non-existent for millions, especially those in the informal sector.
Even within the formal sector, he said contributory pension schemes are failing to deliver meaningful benefits due to low contributions and economic instability, eroding the future value of workers’ savings.
He further pointed to the high cost of housing and transportation, particularly in urban areas, which has forced some workers to remain at their workplaces for days because they cannot afford daily transport fares.
The NLC also criticised multiple taxation and statutory deductions, saying they further reduce workers’ take-home pay without corresponding improvements in public services.
“Workers are burdened with taxes, pension contributions, union dues and other deductions, while electricity tariffs, telecommunications charges and highway tolls continue to rise,” Ajaero said.
He added that the collapse of public infrastructure has compelled workers to spend heavily on alternative power supply, water, security and private healthcare.
Summing up the situation, the NLC said Nigerian workers are trapped in a vicious cycle of macroeconomic instability and systemic failure, where inflation, currency depreciation and stagnant wages have made daily survival the primary concern.
“Without urgent and comprehensive interventions to stabilise the economy, raise real incomes and strengthen social protection systems, this financial insecurity will continue to undermine the well-being of Nigerian workers and the country’s economic future,” Ajaero warned.
He urged the Federal Government to take decisive action, stressing that addressing the crisis is in the interest of both workers and the nation as a whole.
Comments