The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED) has urged federal and state governments to implement a living wage that reflects the true cost of living for Nigerian workers.
In a statement commemorating Workers’ Day, CHRICED Executive Director Dr. Ibrahim Zikirullahi emphasized that paying merely a minimum wage is inadequate. “Governments must ensure that workers receive a living wage—adjusted regularly for inflation and economic conditions—to uplift lives, boost productivity, and promote national stability,” he said.
The organisation also called for comprehensive social programmes addressing housing, healthcare, and agriculture to ease workers’ burdens. Zikirullahi saluted the resilience of Nigerian workers, especially amid worsening economic conditions, noting that inflation has surged from 21% to 24.23% under the current administration without corresponding improvements in workers’ welfare.
“It is unacceptable that the national minimum wage stands at a paltry N70,000 despite increased government revenues from crude oil, expanded taxation, and savings from fuel subsidy removal,” he said, citing delays by over 20 states in adjusting salaries following the July 2024 minimum wage law. He condemned the federal government’s failure to pay wage awards for over five months, as highlighted by protests in Oyo State.
Zikirullahi criticized the disproportionate allocation of national resources, saying billions are earmarked for political elites while civil servants receive inadequate support. He urged all tiers of government to act urgently and empathetically, insisting, “The welfare of Nigerian workers must be elevated from rhetoric to reality.”
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu, decried the unprecedented hardship Nigerian workers face due to high inflation and rising transportation costs, which have eroded purchasing power and hampered productivity.
Ojukwu called for reforms that prioritize human dignity, social justice, and workers’ well-being. He cautioned against suppressing peaceful protests by workers, stressing the need for government to foster open dialogue with labour unions and uphold citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and expression.
He reiterated the NHRC’s commitment to safeguarding workers’ rights and ensuring their voices are heard, adding that Workers’ Day serves as a powerful reminder of the invaluable contributions of Nigerian workers to national development.
