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The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service, Technical and Professional Services Employees (AUPCTRE) has said Nigeria\'s ₦70,000 national minimum wage has been rendered ineffective by soaring inflation and the rising cost of living across the country.
The National President of the union, Mr Benjamin Anthony, made the assertion during an interview with journalists in Abuja on Sunday, stressing that the purchasing power of workers had been severely eroded despite the implementation of the new minimum wage.
According to him, the continuous increase in the prices of food, transportation, housing, healthcare, education and other essential services has made it almost impossible for workers to adequately cater for themselves and their families.
Anthony argued that a household of six could no longer survive on a monthly income of ₦70,000, insisting that the wage had been overtaken by current economic realities.
He maintained that the national minimum wage should not be mistaken for periodic salary reviews, noting that salaries must be adjusted regularly to reflect inflation and protect workers from worsening economic hardship.
\"The current minimum wage has been swallowed by inflation. As the cost of living continues to rise, government must review salaries periodically to cushion the effects on workers,\" he said.
The labour leader called on the Federal Government to implement policies that would guarantee a living wage capable of meeting the basic needs of Nigerian workers while preserving their dignity.
He also commended state governments that have gone beyond the statutory minimum wage by introducing salary adjustments to lessen the burden of rising living costs on their workforce.
Anthony urged policymakers to prioritise improved wages, stronger social protection programmes and better working conditions, stressing that enhanced welfare would boost workers\' morale, increase productivity and support sustainable national development.
