Wednesday, December 17, 2025 - The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has warned that workers and Nigerians were facing the worst survival crisis in the nation’s history, driven by rising inflation, deepening insecurity, poor wages and the collapse of social protection systems.
It contended that they were worse off, when compared to
other African workers, including war-ravaged nations such as Somalia and Sudan.
NLC, yesterday, said the current hardship is more severe
than what some Nigerians experienced during the civil war or the era of
austerity measures, stressing that financial insecurity has become the defining
reality of working masses across the country.
NLC President, Mr. Joe Ajaero, who reviewed the current
state of affairs, said: “Nigerians, especially Nigerian workers, are currently
confronted with the worst survival crisis in the history of our nation, worse
than the civil war years and even the era of austerity measures. At the heart
of this crisis lies the growing scourge of financial insecurity.
“Today, the Nigerian worker sits at the bottom of the ladder
when compared with workers in many African countries, including war-ravaged
nations such as Somalia and Sudan.
“The simple and natural progression of life is that a person
must eat to survive. However, when work no longer provides adequate income to
meet basic needs, survival becomes extremely difficult. When daily existence
turns into a constant struggle, workers become deeply insecure, exposed to
overwhelming existential demands that can only be addressed financially.
“This is now the reality of Nigerian workers and the masses.
They are heavily stressed, constantly on edge, and left with little or no hope
for savings, asset accumulation, or long-term security.
“At a time when lives have become increasingly insecure due
to widespread violence across the country, including Boko Haram and Islamic
State-West Africa Province, ISWAP, terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping, it is
important to draw attention to the parallel and worsening crisis of financial
insecurity. This crisis is both a direct consequence of physical insecurity and
an independent, mutually reinforcing factor.
“The truth is that the incomes of Nigerian workers have
continued to decline, even as they work harder. Nigeria’s inflation rate, over
30 per cent in 2024, remains among the highest globally, severely eroding
purchasing power, despite questionable claims of declining inflation figures by
the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS.
“Real wages have stagnated and, in many cases, collapsed.
Salaries, particularly in the public sector and in many private organisations,
have failed to keep pace with inflation. The national minimum wage of N70,000,
is grossly inadequate to meet basic needs. That the price of a bag of rice
exceeds the national minimum wage should prick the conscience of any
responsible leader
“Currency depreciation has further worsened the situation.
The naira’s significant loss of value against major currencies has increased
the cost of imported goods, fuel and services, directly driving up the cost of
living for workers.
“Rising fuel prices have triggered sharp increases in
transportation costs and production expenses, which in turn affect the prices
of all goods and services. Food inflation has made proper nutrition largely
inaccessible to the average worker, with food expenses consuming as much as 80
per cent of monthly income in many households.
“Unemployment and under-employment have created a large pool
of desperate job seekers, placing downward pressure on wages and fueling the
growth of informal, low-paying and insecure jobs.
“Workers are also confronted with weak social safety nets.
Unemployment benefits, health insurance and pension coverage remain inadequate
or non-existent for many, especially those in the informal economy.
Even within the formal sector, contributory pension schemes
often deliver insufficient benefits due to low contributions and economic
volatility, undermining the future value of current savings.
“The high cost of housing and transportation remains another
severe burden. Urban rents and transport fares are disproportionately high
relative to incomes, forcing many workers into long, expensive commutes. Some
workers now remain in their workplaces throughout the week, unable to afford
daily transportation home.
“Multiple taxation and deductions further erode take-home
pay. Workers face numerous statutory deductions, taxes, pension contributions,
union dues, without commensurate improvements in public services. In addition,
rising electricity and telecommunications tariffs, as well as tolls on public
highways, have intensified the financial emasculation of Nigerian workers.
“Poor public infrastructure compels workers to self-fund
basic services. Significant portions of income are spent on alternative power
supply, water, security and private healthcare due to the failure of public
systems.
“Widespread insecurity and displacement have created one of
the gravest financial crises for Nigerian workers. In many regions, conflict
and terrorism disrupt livelihoods, displace families and destroy assets—often
leaving workers impoverished, when they are not killed in the process.
Citizens crushed by inflation, insecurity, poor wages
“Nigerian workers are trapped in a relentless squeeze
between macroeconomic instability and systemic failure. Soaring inflation, a
depreciating currency and stagnant wages have destroyed purchasing power, while
the high costs of essentials, food, fuel, housing and transportation—consume
most incomes.
“These challenges are compounded by job insecurity, weak
social protection and the burden of privately funding basic services due to
collapsing public infrastructure. The result is a vicious cycle of financial
precarity in which saving or investing for the future becomes impossible and
daily survival takes precedence.
“Without urgent and comprehensive interventions to stabilise
the economy, raise real incomes and strengthen social protections, the
financial insecurity confronting Nigerian workers will continue to undermine
individual well-being and the nation’s broader economic prospects.
“It is in the interest of the Federal Government, and indeed
the nation, that decisive action is taken to address these threats facing
Nigerian workers.”
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