The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has expressed frustration over the inability to compel state governors to implement the N70,000 minimum wage, especially as economic conditions continue to deteriorate. Speaking at the 2024 delegates’ conference of the NLC Youth Council in Abuja on Tuesday, Ajaero pointed out the increasing hardships faced by the Nigerian populace.
“Comrades, we must speak frankly about the situation in our country. The reality is too harsh to ignore. In Nigeria, the wealthy continue to thrive off the labor of the poor, our youth face an uphill battle to find employment, and the value of hard work is often disregarded,” Ajaero said.
He further painted a grim picture of the nation’s economic struggles, noting that essential items have become unaffordable. “A 50kg bag of rice now costs N105,000, transport from Abuja to Port Harcourt exceeds N50,000, and decent housing is increasingly out of reach. Basic healthcare services remain beyond the grasp of many, while essential social services grow more elusive. Yet, we still struggle to get some governors to implement the N70,000 National Minimum Wage, which is a product of a law that should have been followed,” he added.
Ajaero urged Nigerians to stop focusing on the challenges and instead rise up with determination, emphasizing, “No one will build our nation for us.”
He also stressed the significant role young people must play in the trade union movement, revealing plans to establish youth executive councils in every state to address youth-specific issues and promote active involvement.
The conference, titled “Youth and the New World of Work: The Imperative of a New Social Contract,” was designed to motivate young people to reshape the concept of fairness and justice in the ever-changing world of work.
In his closing remarks, Ajaero called on the youth to remain united and focused, assuring them that the NLC would continue to support and guide them in their fight for justice and equity.
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