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…The union says the price hike has reduced pensions to poverty wages
…warns the government to honor its obligations towards workers and pensioners
Daud Olatunji
Nigeria’s Labor Congress has said it is ready for a nationwide campaign to secure a comprehensive overhaul of the national minimum wage, warning that organized labor is poised for a major fight to force improved welfare for workers and pensioners.
The NLC also announced plans to push for the establishment of a national minimum pension, insisting that pensioners should no longer be excluded from government wage and benefit reforms.
The Chairman of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, disclosed this on Sunday during the commissioning of the Comrade Godwin Abumisi Pensioners Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja.
Ajaero said the labor movement had begun preparations for what he described as an ideological and economic battle to improve the living conditions of Nigerian workers and pensioners amid worsening economic hardship.
“We are currently in the preparatory stages of a major national fight for a comprehensive overhaul of the national minimum wage,” Ajaero said.
“However, let me state unequivocally that it is no longer acceptable to discuss the well-being of workers without also discussing the well-being of those who have completed their years of active duty.”
He added: “Accordingly, the Nigeria Labor Congress will not only push for a new national minimum wage, but will also call for the establishment of a national minimum pension. It is a historic injustice that men and women who have dedicated their youth, strength and productive years in service to this nation are condemned to live below the poverty line after retirement.”
The union leader said the country’s harsh economic reality, fueled by soaring inflation and rising costs of living, had made the current salary and pension structure inadequate.
According to him, prices of food, transportation and healthcare have continued to rise, leaving many workers and pensioners struggling to survive.
“We cannot continue to allow our senior citizens to survive on pensions that have become poverty wages. Every pensioner deserves to live with dignity after decades of faithful service to the nation,” he said.
Ajaero stressed that the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, affiliated to the NLC, will play a vital role in the campaign, assuring pensioners that organized labor will remain committed to protecting their interests.
“The Nigerian Pensioners Union is one of the proud affiliates of the Nigeria Labor Congress. Therefore, your struggle is our struggle and your welfare remains a priority for the organized labor movement,” he said.
He urged workers and retirees across the country to remain united and prepare for the next mobilization, saying the newly inaugurated Legacy House should serve as more than just an administrative building.
“This Legacy House should not be seen simply as a physical structure; it should become a center of mobilization, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead,” Ajaero said.
He warned that organized labor could only succeed if workers maintained a united front.
“The working class has always understood that those who exploit workers are united in promoting their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that the government fulfills its obligations to both workers and pensioners,” he said.
Ajaero also called on the federal government to immediately clear pension arrears and implement reforms that ensure pensioners have a decent standard of living.
“We will continue to demand the immediate payment of all pension arrears and the implementation of a pension scheme that guarantees every pensioner a life of dignity and security,” he said.
He added: “Together we will continue to fight to ensure that every Nigerian worker and pensioner receives the justice, respect and well-being they deserve.”
The NLC president also said the completion of the Pensioners Legacy House should inspire workers and labor activists to strengthen the movement’s ability to hold the government accountable.
“We must not only build physical structures, but also build a strong movement capable of forcing the government to honor its commitments,” he said.
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