The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to urgently address workers’ wages and review what it described as regressive tax policies, warning that continued delays and uneven compliance could worsen economic hardship for millions of Nigerians.
The appeal was made on Wednesday by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, during the 85th birthday celebration and book launch of the union’s founding President, Hassan Summonu, OON, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Auditorium, Abuja.
Addressing family members, government officials, labour leaders and journalists at the event, Ajaero described Summonu as a towering figure in Nigeria’s working-class struggle, whose life and legacy continue to inspire generations of workers.
He said the title of Summonu’s memoir, Organise, Don’t Agonise, encapsulates the enduring philosophy of the labour movement.
“This is not just a title; it is the militant creed that has defined Comrade Summonu’s journey and the very soul of our movement,” Ajaero said. “From the shop floors and factories to the corridors of pan-African power, he taught us that the power of the people, when organised, is the ultimate answer to agony imposed by exploitation and poor governance.”
Ajaero recalled the inauguration of the Hassan Summonu Centre for Leadership and Governance in Lagos last year, noting that it reaffirmed organised labour’s commitment to preserving the legacy of its founding president.
“Honouring Comrade Summonu is honouring the collective struggle of the Nigerian working class,” he added.
On the economy, the NLC president expressed concern over the implementation of the new National Minimum Wage, which was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on July 29, 2024, raising the monthly wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000.
He noted that implementation has been uneven, with many state governments, private sector employers and parastatals slow to comply due to financial constraints and rising inflation.
“The law is clear, yet many workers still earn less than they are entitled to,” Ajaero said. “We once again call on the federal government to urgently address the wages of Nigerian workers before next year’s statutory negotiation of the National Minimum Wage.”
He warned that the NLC is monitoring violations and would intensify enforcement actions and legal steps if delays persist, stressing that rising living costs are eroding workers’ welfare. Although federal authorities have issued compliance directives to the private sector, unions say many workers still earn below the approved minimum wage.
Ajaero also criticised recently enacted tax laws, describing them as regressive and disproportionately affecting workers and low-income Nigerians.
“The tax laws went through a process that clearly excluded Nigerian workers and the masses, who are the major taxpayers in Nigeria,” he said. “Our warnings were ignored, and the result is laws that make workers and the poor poorer.”
He further called for the immediate constitution of the PENCOM Board, warning that continued delays and public disputes undermine governance and democracy.
“Continuing along this path seriously undermines tax administration and the rule of law,” he stated.
The NLC president urged the government to engage meaningfully with organised labour in policymaking, stressing that exclusion breeds instability.
“Policies from fuel pricing to taxation, from wages to social services must be crafted with the active and respected input of those who represent workers and the broader masses,” Ajaero said.
The event also celebrated Summonu’s 85 years of life and his enduring impact on labour activism in Nigeria.
“As we launch his book today, we pledge to keep its central message alive,” Ajaero said. “We will continue to organise. We will continue to challenge power. We will continue to fight for a Nigeria where no worker has to agonise over poverty, insecurity, heavy taxation, or a stolen future riddled with national debt.”
