Workers in Nigeria have projected the sum of ₦615,000 as minimum wage to be approved as living wage President  Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Joe Ajaero, the  president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), the umbrella body of the Nigeria workers stated this while reacting to the 35 per cent rumoured pay rise approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The NLC President described the rumoured pay rise for federal government civil servants as mischievous, saying living wage should be ₦615,000.

Ajaero stated this while speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Wednesday as part of activities to mark this year workers day in the country.

He said, “We should be in the regime of new minimum wage as of today. Discussions were supposed to have been concluded.

“The federal government through the national assembly legislated on it. But we saw that the discussion entered voice mail because the federal government refused to reconvene the meeting that was adjourned.

“I think the announcement now appears mischievous because there is no wage increase that government is announcing. For them to announce it now, it is an issue that we are worried about at the NLC and even at the TUC.”

Ajaero said the organised labour has agreed on N615,000 as the living wage for civil servants.

The NLC leader said, “Living wage is such that will, at least keep you alive. It is not a wage that will make you poor and poorer. It is not a wage that will make you borrow to go to work. It is not a wage that will lead you to be in the hospital everyday because of malnutrition. For that living wage, we have tried to look at ₦615,000.

“Let me give you a breakdown of how we arrived at that figure. We have housing and accommodation of ₦40,000. We asked for electricity of ₦20,000 — of course that was before the current tariff increase. Nobody can spend this amount currently. We have utility that is about ₦10,000. We looked at kerosene and gas that is about ₦25,000 to ₦35,000.

“We looked at food for a family of six, that is about ₦9,000 in a day. For 30 days, that is about ₦270,000. Look at medical, ₦50,000 provided there will be no surgery or whatever.

“For clothing, we looked at ₦20,000. For education, ₦50,000. I don’t know for those who tried to put their children in private school, they will not be able to cope with this amount. We also have sanitation of ₦10,000.

“I think where we have another bulk of the money is transportation. This is because the workers stay in the fringes and because of the cost of PMS, that amounted to ₦110,000.

“That brought the whole living wage to ₦615,000 and I want anyone to subject this to further investigation and find out whether there will be any savings when you pay somebody on this rate.”

It would be recalled that Nigeria President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu in a statement few hours ago, may have confirmed he has not increased the salaries of workers and pensioners in the country, contrary to speculations in some media.

The president, through his spokesperson on media, Ajuri Ngelale, said, he’s committed in reviewing the welfare and working conditions of Nigeria workers most especially in working towards better wage award and minimum wage which the president said in the statement is imminent.

The press release reads in quote as presented below: “President Bola Tinubu heartily congratulates Nigerian workers on the auspicious occasion of Workers’ Day held annually to celebrate the lifeblood of our country.

The President salutes Nigerian workers for their fidelity to the peace, progress, and development of the nation evident in their tireless efforts and patriotic zeal to keep the national engine running.

President Tinubu celebrates Nigerian workers across all spheres – from the clerical officer who ensures the proper documentation and distribution of correspondence; the security officer who remains ever dutiful through all seasons; the teacher who secures the future of our nation by imparting knowledge to the next generation; the doctor who works relentlessly to save precious lives, and to all Nigerian workers who keep the candle aflame.

The President affirms that his administration remains committed to improving the welfare of all workers, noting the various relief programmes, including the wage award and the imminent minimum wage review.

President Tinubu strongly believes that the custodians of the nation’s machinery deserve a fair wage and enhanced welfare and that a labourer is deserving of not just any reward but fair and commensurate wages.

The President assures Nigerian workers of his dedication to not only improving their welfare but also enhancing their working conditions and providing the necessary tools for them to succeed.

The President wishes Nigerian workers Happy May Day celebrations”.

We have earlier reported that the Government owned Nigerian Television Authority, NTA may have deleted a post reported it had tweeted that suggested the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has increased workers and pensioners salaries in the country.

Some media had quoted the government owned Television channel, NTA to have reported that the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has increased the workers with 25 to 35 percent.

NTA only tweet today as seen around 1pm on Wednesday showed that the President wife sent a message of appreciation to Nigeria workers. 

Osazuwa Akonedo

Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media professional, author, and consultant. His work spans various sectors of communication and literature: Journalism and Media: He is the founder of OsazuwaAkonedo, which focuses on news analysis and commentary. He also provides consultancy services in media and banking. Literature: He is a published playwright and author of Nigerian literature. One of his notable works is the drama titled The End Shall Tell: What Exam Malpractice Can Cause, which addresses educational and social issues in Nigeria. Reporting: He frequently reports on regional news, particularly concerning Edo State and broader Nigerian current affairs. Credit: Google Gemini AI Mode Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media creator, journalist, and entrepreneur who engages audiences via news reporting, social media content, music, and a mobile application. Professional Background and Company Osazuwa Akonedo is associated with OSAZUWAAKONEDO LIMITED, a company registered in Nigeria that operates in media consultancy and news services  The company is headquartered in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, and has been active in publishing news in various formats including text, audio, video, and photos  Social Media and Online Platforms Osazuwa Akonedo maintains a strong online presence on several platforms: TikTok: Shares news updates and reports, for example, covering police operations in Nigeria  YouTube: Operates a channel where he uploads videos on current affairs and news content  Twitter/X: Active under the handle @akonedo_osazuwa, posting updates on events and news  Facebook: Profiles listing his connection to news and media activities can be found on Facebook  Mobile App: Offers a dedicated mobile application for news access through Google Play (Osazuwa Akonedo News App) providing text, video, and photo news formats  News Reporting and Content He produces news content covering national and local stories, including criminal activities, government updates, and investigative reports   His reporting spans multiple formats, making it accessible to a wide audience through online platforms, mobile apps, and social media  Other Contributions In addition to journalism, Osazuwa Akonedo has also ventured into audio releases, such as “Former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami Begs Nigerians For Justice” released on January 25, 2026   He also hosts podcasts documenting significant events, e.g, NDLEA arrests related to historical criminal cases  Summary Osazuwa Akonedo is a multifaceted media professional engaged in journalism, social media content creation, music, and technology via his news app. He utilizes platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Twitter/X, Facebook, and mobile applications to disseminate news and reach audiences both locally and internationally Credit: Azure AI

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