The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the possibility of another temporary wage award, insisting that the Federal Government should introduce a sustainable salary increase to address workers’ economic difficulties.
The labour organisation said another wage award would not provide the lasting financial relief required by Nigerian workers, particularly amid rising living costs and declining purchasing power.
The position was contained in a communiqué issued in Abuja on Thursday following an emergency meeting of the Congress’s National Administrative Council (NAC).
The communiqué was signed by the TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, who reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to defending workers’ rights through collective bargaining and effective engagement with government.
TUC raises concerns over unpaid 2023 wage award
The Congress said its demand for a permanent salary improvement was partly driven by the Federal Government’s failure to fully implement the wage award agreement reached with organised labour in October 2023.
According to Toro, the agreement signed on October 2, 2023, provided for temporary financial support for workers until the new national minimum wage became law on July 29, 2024.
However, he said workers received payments equivalent to only about three months out of the 10 months covered by the agreement.
The Congress argued that introducing another temporary payment arrangement without addressing the outstanding obligations would not adequately protect workers from the continuing pressure of rising prices.
It therefore maintained that the government should focus on a lasting salary adjustment rather than another short-term intervention.
Minimum wage should not limit workers’ earnings – TUC
The labour organisation also stressed that Nigeria’s national minimum wage should be treated as the legal starting point for workers’ earnings, not a ceiling restricting further salary improvements.
It maintained that employees should be able to negotiate better remuneration through established collective bargaining arrangements.
The TUC further expressed support for the positions taken by some of its public-sector affiliate unions, including the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions (SSAUTHRAI), the National Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP) and the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC).
According to the Congress, the positions of these unions are consistent with its earlier demands concerning workers’ welfare and conditions of service.
Congress insists on respect for collective bargaining
The TUC warned against any attempt to sideline recognised unions when decisions affecting workers’ salaries and employment conditions are being made.
Toro maintained that affected unions must be allowed to represent their members and participate in negotiations concerning their conditions of service.
He also reaffirmed the Congress’s status as a recognised national trade union centre, referring to International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions 87 and 98, which protect freedom of association and the right to organise and bargain collectively.
The organisation said workers’ interests could not be adequately protected if their representatives were excluded from important negotiations.
TUC calls for renewed engagement with government
Despite its disagreement over the proposed wage award approach, the Congress said it remained willing to engage constructively with the Federal Government.
It called for the implementation of resolutions reached during its October 8, 2026 meeting in Abuja, while urging authorities at both federal and state levels to address the difficulties confronting public-sector employees.
The NAC also reaffirmed the authority of the National Executive Council (NEC), describing it as the Congress’s highest decision-making body between delegates’ conferences.
Toro urged TUC leaders to concentrate on securing measurable improvements in workers’ salaries through meaningful discussions with relevant stakeholders rather than engaging in unnecessary public disagreements.
He stressed that workers’ welfare remained a major priority and that any government intervention should produce lasting benefits.
The latest position adds to the ongoing debate over workers’ salaries, the implementation of wage agreements and the ability of Nigerian employees to cope with the rising cost of living.
