The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has urged the Federal Government to urgently improve the salaries of Nigerian workers instead of waiting for the next review of the national minimum wage.
TUC President, Festus Osifo, made the call on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, while speaking after the union’s National Administrative Council meeting.
Osifo said the government has the authority to pay workers above the statutory minimum wage and does not need to wait for a new minimum wage agreement before reviewing salaries.
He argued that the prevailing economic situation requires immediate action to improve workers’ purchasing power and welfare.
The TUC president indicated that government could consider significantly higher salary levels, with figures ranging from about ₦200,000 to ₦400,000, depending on workers’ circumstances and the applicable salary structure.
He stressed that the ₦70,000 national minimum wage represents a wage floor and should not prevent the government from paying workers above that amount.
Osifo also disclosed that the TUC had begun preparations for negotiations on a new national minimum wage. According to him, discussions should begin early enough to avoid the delays experienced during previous negotiations.
The union is expected to push for improved wages as workers continue to face pressure from the rising cost of living.
The current ₦70,000 national minimum wage was introduced in 2024, while the existing wage arrangement is expected to expire in 2027.
The TUC maintained that immediate salary improvements would provide relief for workers while broader negotiations on a new national minimum wage take place.
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