President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has criticised the economic conditions facing Nigerian workers, arguing that President Bola Tinubu’s widely promoted “age of prosperity” has yet to translate into improved living standards for ordinary citizens.

Ajaero made the remarks during an appearance on the Mic On Podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, where he discussed workers’ wages, inflation, fuel prices and the broader state of the Nigerian economy.

‘Prosperity is not with the Nigerian worker’

According to Ajaero, the purchasing power of Nigerian workers has continued to decline as the cost of essential goods and services rises.

He pointed to the increasing prices of food, fuel, transportation and accommodation, arguing that the current ₦70,000 minimum wage is insufficient to meet the basic needs of many workers.

“Prosperity is not with the Nigerian worker.”

Ajaero noted that even when official inflation figures indicate a slowdown in the rate of price increases, Nigerians continue to feel the effects of previous increases in the cost of living.

Labour’s concerns over ₦70,000 minimum wage

The NLC president also reflected on the negotiations that resulted in the ₦70,000 minimum wage.

He explained that organised labour accepted the figure partly because of assurances from the Federal Government that measures such as compressed natural gas (CNG) infrastructure, vehicle conversion programmes and direct cash transfers would help cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal.

However, Ajaero argued that the implementation of some of these measures has been inadequate.

He pointed to the limited availability of CNG buses and refuelling stations, saying they have not sufficiently reduced transportation costs for workers.

‘What is the use of a higher wage if you cannot afford rent?’

Ajaero maintained that increasing workers’ nominal salaries would have little meaning if the cost of living and value of the naira continued to deteriorate.

“If I get N500,000 minimum wage, and I can’t pay my house rent, of what use?”

He also suggested that petrol prices could fall significantly if locally produced crude oil were supplied to Nigerian refineries at preferential prices.

Ajaero criticises economic policies ahead of 2027

The labour leader also discussed the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He argued that the major political contenders, including President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party figure Peter Obi, largely share similar free-market economic orientations despite belonging to different political camps.

Ajaero further warned that unresolved economic and welfare concerns could increase pressure on the government and potentially lead to renewed industrial action.

His comments come amid ongoing debates over workers’ wages, inflation, fuel prices and the wider impact of economic reforms on Nigerian households.