Labour union says workers’ welfare must no longer be discussed without addressing the hardship faced by pensioners as inflation continues to erode incomes…..
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced plans to launch a nationwide campaign for a fresh review of the national minimum wage, while also intensifying calls for the establishment of a national minimum pension to protect retirees from worsening economic hardship.
Speaking during the inauguration of the Godwin Abumisi Pensioners’ Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja, NLC President Joe Ajaero said organised labour is broadening its focus beyond the welfare of active workers to include Nigerians who have retired after years of public service.
According to Ajaero, the Congress is already laying the groundwork for what he described as a major nationwide struggle aimed at securing a new minimum wage. He stressed, however, that any conversation about improving workers’ earnings must also address the living conditions of pensioners.
He argued that it is unjust for Nigerians who dedicated the most productive years of their lives to serving the country to spend their retirement battling poverty and financial uncertainty.
Ajaero noted that soaring inflation and the rising cost of living have significantly reduced the value of pension payments, leaving many retirees unable to meet basic needs.
He called on pensioners across the country to remain united as organised labour prepares to intensify its advocacy for reforms that will improve their welfare.
The NLC president maintained that no retiree should be forced to survive on pensions that no longer reflect current economic realities, insisting that every Nigerian who has completed decades of service deserves to retire with dignity.
He also renewed the union’s demand for the immediate settlement of outstanding pension arrears and urged the government to implement a pension system that guarantees retirees financial security and a decent standard of living.
The planned campaign signals that the labour movement is seeking a broader conversation on social protection, with both wage increases for workers and improved pension benefits expected to feature prominently in its engagement with the government in the coming months.
