NLC Declares ‘Battle Ready’ for National Struggle Over New Minimum Wage and Pension

ABUJA — The Nigeria Labour Congress has declared that it is preparing for a major national struggle to secure a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage, and for the first time, a new national minimum pension.

NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, made the declaration on July 19 during the commissioning of the Comrade Godwin Abumisi Pensioners Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja.

According to him, the conversation around workers’ welfare can no longer exclude retirees who served the country for decades.

“Your struggle is our struggle”

Ajaero described the Nigeria Union of Pensioners as one of the proud affiliates of the NLC, and said their welfare remains central to organised labour’s agenda.

“The Nigeria Union of Pensioners is one of the proud affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress. Therefore, your struggle is our struggle, and your welfare remains a priority for the organised labour movement,” he said.

He announced that the NLC is already in the preparatory stages for what he called a major national struggle over wages and pensions.

“We are currently in the preparatory stages for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage,” Ajaero said.

“But let me state unequivocally that it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.”

The NLC president said labour will not only push for a new minimum wage, but will also demand the establishment of a national minimum pension.

“It is a historical injustice that men and women who devoted their youth, strength and productive years to the service of this nation should be condemned to live below the poverty line after retirement,” he stated.

Ajaero noted that the cost of living has risen sharply. Food, healthcare and transportation have become increasingly unaffordable for both active workers and retirees.

“We cannot continue to allow our senior citizens to survive on pensions that have become poverty wages,” he said. “Every retiree deserves to live with dignity after decades of faithful service to the nation.”

He called on pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins.

“This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure,” he told the gathering. “It should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”

“The working class has always understood that those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests,” he said. “We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”

He said the completion of the Pensioners Legacy House should serve as a call to action.We must not only build physical structures but also build a strong movement capable of compelling government to honour its commitments,” he said.

Outstanding arrears and dignity for retirees

Beyond a new minimum pension, the NLC is also demanding immediate payment of all outstanding pension arrears and a pension regime that guarantees security in retirement.

“We will continue to demand the immediate payment of all outstanding pension arrears and the implementation of a pension regime that guarantees every retiree a life of dignity and security,” Ajaero said.

“Together, we shall continue to fight until every Nigerian worker and pensioner receives the justice, respect and welfare they deserve.”

He urged workers and pensioners alike to get ready for what he described as the ideological and economic battles ahead.

The push comes at a time when inflation and rising living costs have eroded the purchasing power of both salaries and pensions. Many retirees have complained for years that their monthly payments cannot cover basic needs, while workers argue that the current N70,000 minimum wage, agreed in 2024, has already been overtaken by economic realities.

By linking the minimum wage review directly to a minimum pension, the NLC is expanding the scope of its demand. The message is that labour’s fight is not just for those currently in service, but for those who have already served.

The commissioning of the Legacy House in Abuja, named after former NUP leader Comrade Godwin Abumisi, is expected to serve as a rallying point for that campaign. Labour leaders say it will be used for meetings, mobilisation, and strategy sessions as negotiations with government begin.

The NLC has not announced a specific date for the start of industrial action, but Ajaero’s tone suggests preparations are already underway. The union will be expected to present its proposals to government in the coming months, as part of the statutory process for wage review.

For now, the message from Abuja is clear: labour is organising early, and it intends to fight for both workers and pensioners in the same struggle.