The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Professional Services Employees (AUPCTRE) has said the N70,000 national minimum wage is no longer sufficient to meet the needs of Nigerian workers due to rising inflation.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) monitored by The News Chronicle on Sunday in Abuja, AUPCTRE National President, Mr. Benjamin Anthony, said the current economic realities have significantly reduced the purchasing power of workers despite the implementation of the new minimum wage.
According to him, the rising cost of food, transportation, accommodation, healthcare, education, and other essential needs has made it increasingly difficult for workers to survive.
“Today, a family of six cannot survive on N70,000 because the cost of food, transportation, accommodation, healthcare, education, and other basic needs has risen significantly. The current minimum wage has been swallowed up by inflation and the prevailing economic realities,” Anthony said.
He stressed that workers are struggling to cope with the high cost of living, noting that the national minimum wage is different from regular salary reviews.
“As inflation continues to rise, the government should regularly review salaries to cushion the hardship. What Nigerian workers need today is a living wage that reflects the realities of the economy and enables them to live with dignity,” he added.
Anthony urged the Federal Government to adopt policies that would protect workers’ earnings from inflation and improve their overall welfare through periodic salary reviews.
He also commended states that have adjusted workers’ salaries beyond the national minimum wage to ease the burden of economic hardship, urging the Federal Government to follow suit.
The labour leader further called on policymakers to prioritize improved wages, stronger social protection, and better working conditions, saying these measures would boost workers’ productivity and contribute to sustainable national development.
“The Nigerian worker is dedicated and committed to the progress of this country. What workers need now is a living wage,” Anthony said, adding that better remuneration would strengthen productivity and support national growth.
