The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has called for the full and effective implementation of the national minimum wage, insisting that Nigerian workers must enjoy genuine purchasing power and a decent standard of living.
Ajaero made the demand while delivering his opening remarks at the launch of an investigative research report on minimum wage and pension payment compliance in Nigeria, held at Rockview Hotel, Abuja.
Speaking on the theme, “Minimum Wage Now… With Value!”, the labour leader argued that implementing a new minimum wage should go beyond announcing salary figures to ensuring that workers can afford basic necessities amid rising living costs.
He stressed that a minimum wage would have little meaning if workers continued to struggle to feed their families, pay rent and meet other essential expenses despite earning the legally prescribed amount.
According to the NLC president, meaningful minimum wage implementation must include regular and timely salary payments, respect for workers’ rights and strict enforcement of wage laws across all tiers of government and the private sector.
Ajaero also drew attention to the plight of pensioners, calling for the prompt and full payment of retirement benefits to Nigerians who had dedicated years of service to the country.
He maintained that workers and retirees deserved financial security and dignity, warning that rising living costs continued to put enormous pressure on household incomes.
The investigative research report is aimed at examining compliance with minimum wage regulations and pension payment obligations across Nigeria, highlighting the gap between government policies and their actual implementation
