TUC Demands Sustainable Salary Increase for Workers

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has formally rejected a new wage award, advocating instead for a sustainable salary increase to improve workers' welfare and purchasing power. This stance was articulated in a communiqué signed by TUC Secretary-General Nuhu Toro after an emergency National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting.

The TUC criticized the government's previous temporary wage award, stating it inadequately addressed ongoing financial challenges faced by workers. The demand for a salary increase stems from the Federal Government's failure to fully implement the 2023 wage award agreement, which was signed on October 2, 2023.

Under this agreement, workers were to receive a wage award as a temporary measure until the new national minimum wage became law on July 29, 2024. However, workers only received an average of three months' payment out of the ten months stipulated.

The TUC emphasized that the national minimum wage should serve as a floor for earnings, not a ceiling, and reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement with the government.