The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed N70,000 wage award for workers, demanding an immediate and sustainable salary increase, including a minimum monthly salary of N300,000 for the lowest-paid federal workers.
The Congress also called for the immediate implementation of the outstanding Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) adjustment for members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), accusing the Federal Government of failing to honour an agreement that led to the suspension of the health workers’ prolonged industrial action.
In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its President, Festus Osifo, and Secretary-General, N.A. Toro, the TUC argued that workers required lasting improvements in their earnings rather than temporary financial relief that had allegedly failed to reach all eligible beneficiaries.
The labour body maintained that the Federal Government could increase workers’ salaries without waiting for negotiations on a new national minimum wage, noting that there was no legally prescribed maximum wage preventing the government from implementing a higher salary structure.
According to the Congress, raising the salary of the lowest-paid federal worker to N300,000, alongside appropriate consequential adjustments for other salary grades, would provide more meaningful relief amid the prevailing economic hardship.
It cited some states that had increased their minimum wages beyond N100,000 as evidence that a more substantial salary adjustment was achievable.
The TUC warned that negotiations over a new national minimum wage should not become an excuse for delaying urgent measures to improve workers’ purchasing power as the cost of food, transportation, healthcare and other essential services continued to rise.
“Our position was very clear: Federal Government should review and increase salaries of workers,” the statement said.
On the proposed N70,000 wage award, the Congress recalled that the previous N40,000 wage award, agreed upon by the Federal Government and organised labour on October 2, 2023, was intended to remain in place until a new national minimum wage was negotiated in 2024.
However, it alleged that the previous arrangement was not fully implemented, leaving some workers with outstanding payments while others received nothing.
The Congress further claimed that some beneficiaries received the payments irregularly, sometimes at intervals of one or two months, and had to make repeated demands before receiving their entitlements.
It also alleged that more than 80 per cent of states and workers in the informal sector did not benefit from any form of wage award.
Questioning the rationale for another temporary arrangement, the TUC asked how workers could be expected to trust a fresh promise when previous obligations remained outstanding.
It insisted that direct salary increases would provide more reliable support than temporary payments whose implementation could be inconsistent.
“Salary is the only consistent and far-reaching pay that workers could rely upon,” it declared.
The Congress urged the Federal Government, state governments and local councils to introduce measurable interventions to reduce the cost of essential goods and services.
It noted that the economic hardship extended beyond federal workers to state and local government employees, pensioners, private-sector workers and those in the informal economy.
The TUC called for the timely payment of salaries and pensions, protection of existing jobs, an end to exploitative labour practices and the revitalisation of the productive sector to generate decent employment.
It also demanded that government interventions be inclusive, adequately funded and supported by clear implementation timelines, arguing that policy announcements must translate into tangible improvements in the living conditions of Nigerians.
On the lingering dispute involving JOHESU, the Congress accused the Federal Government of failing to implement the agreement reached with the health workers following months of industrial action.
It recalled that Osifo led the organised labour delegation, including JOHESU leaders and a representative of its sister congress, during negotiations to resolve the dispute.
The final conciliatory meeting was held at the office of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi. The Federal Government delegation also included the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, and the then Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.
The meeting produced a communiqué containing commitments by both parties, following which JOHESU suspended its industrial action in good faith.
According to the TUC, the agreement provided for the conclusive resolution of outstanding issues relating to the CONHESS adjustment without further delay.
However, the Congress said the adjustment remained unimplemented seven months after the agreement was reached.
“This continued failure to honour an explicit commitment violates the principle of good faith, undermines confidence in collective bargaining and is absolutely unacceptable to the TUC,” it stated.
The labour body demanded the immediate implementation of the adjustment, publication of a clear implementation timetable, provision of the necessary budgetary allocations and resolution of outstanding issues in consultation with the relevant unions.
It warned that health workers should not be expected to continue providing essential services while agreements reached with them remained unfulfilled.
“The TUC demands tangible action, not further assurances,” the statement added, pledging the Congress’s support for the affected unions and its readiness to pursue all lawful measures necessary to secure compliance.
The Congress said its demands were aimed at securing economic justice and protecting workers’ livelihoods rather than seeking favours from the government.
It maintained that adequate wages, social protection and effective measures to reduce the cost of living were essential to preserving workers’ dignity.
“Workers’ welfare is not a privilege. Agreements must be honoured. Workers’ rights must be respected. Government must comply,” the statement declared.
The TUC disclosed that it was awaiting the outcome of its scheduled meeting with the Federal Government before deciding on its next line of action.
The statement followed a letter dated October 8, 2026, which the Congress sent to the Federal Government through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation after a meeting of its National Administrative Council in Abuja.
