The NLC rejects a tax on the minimum wage

The Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) has rejected proposals to impose a tax on the national minimum wage.

Congress also urged immediate implementation of a living wage for Nigerian workers.

NLC President, Joe Ajaero, disclosed this to journalists on the sidelines of the 114th Session of the ongoing International Labor Conference (ILC) on Tuesday in Geneva Switzerland.

Ajaero said organized labor would reject any effort to tax minimum wage workers and described the policy direction as “unfair and insensitive” to the economic hardship occurring across the country.

“We reject any attempt to tax the minimum wage or impose levies on Nigeria’s working poor,” Ajaero said.

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He said the current wage structure no longer reflects the realities of the Nigerian economy, adding that inflation, rising food prices and transport costs have worsened the living conditions of workers across the country.

Ajaero said organized labor would soon begin new negotiations on a new minimum wage.

He revealed that the process would begin in July 2026 to avoid delays and administrative bottlenecks in the past.

“As soon as we leave here, we will write another letter to the government, demanding the start of the National Minimum Wage renegotiation process,” said the NLC President.