Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has reaffirmed its demand for a sustainable wage improve as different to a different wage award, insisting the N70,000 transport allowance agreed between federal authorities and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) just isn’t sufficient to handle employees’ hardship.
In a communique issued at finish of its emergency National Administrative Council (NAC) assembly held on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, TUC stated a wage improve gives a extra significant intervention to enhance buying energy and residing requirements.
The communique signed by Secretary General, Comrade Nuhu Toro, stated NAC reaffirmed its place as acknowledged in its press launch of October 21, 2026, emphasizing that minimal wage is a statutory ground and never a ceiling on employees’ earnings.
TUC stated it’s demanding wage improve and never one other wage award, notably in view of federal authorities’s failure to totally implement wage award palliative agreed on October 2, 2023, which was supposed to run till new minimal wage was signed into legislation on July 29, 2024. Under that settlement, employees acquired a mean of solely three months out of ten months agreed upon.
“The Council maintained that a sustainable salary increase offers a more meaningful intervention to improve workers’ purchasing power and living standards,” it stated.
The NAC additionally acknowledged positions of a few of its public-sector associates – SSAUTHRIA, NUAHP and SSASCGOC – noting they’re in step with earlier place of Congress.
It confused employees’ welfare can’t be superior by disregarding collective bargaining rights of affected unions or undermining their respectable illustration.
It reaffirmed TUC as a acknowledged commerce union centre with respectable mandate to signify, defend and negotiate for members in keeping with ILO Conventions 87 and 98, and resolved to pursue constructive and result-oriented engagement with authorities in direction of implementing resolutions of its October 8 assembly in Abuja.
The Council famous TUC is on path of long-term institutional renewal beneath management of Comrade (Engr.) Festus Osifo, acknowledging such journey just isn’t with out distractions and resistance, however resolved to stay resolute and consolidate features via collective decision-making.
On accountability, TUC reaffirmed its accountability to National Executive Council (NEC), highest decision-making organ between Delegates’ Conferences, saying it has acted in accordance with NEC directives and Constitution.
It due to this fact resolved leaders ought to refocus efforts on securing wage improve by participating stakeholders and refraining from public exchanges on matter, stressing Congress believes in purposeful, result-oriented management that delivers tangible advantages relatively than distractions or unsustainable interventions.
