KEY POINTS
- Nigerian workers survival crisis is worsening under inflation and weak wages.
- Food costs consume up to 80 percent of household income.
- Insecurity and poor social protection amplify financial strain.
Nigeria’s labour movement says workers are enduring the harshest economic conditions in the country’s history, as inflation, insecurity and eroding wages converge to strain daily survival. The Nigeria Labour Congress said the pressure now facing households exceeds past periods of national crisis, including the civil war and years of austerity.
Nigerian workers survival crisis deepens
The Nigeria Labour Congress said workers across the country are struggling under what it described as the worst survival crisis Nigeria has ever faced. The union blamed rising prices, insecurity, weak wages and failing social protections for the growing hardship.
The NLC said Nigerian workers now fare worse than their peers across much of Africa. That includes countries affected by prolonged conflict such as Somalia and Sudan. According to the union, financial insecurity has become a constant feature of working life.
NLC President Joe Ajaero said the erosion of income has pushed workers into a daily fight to meet basic needs. He said employment no longer guarantees food, shelter or stability for millions of households.
Ajaero said workers now live under persistent stress, with little capacity to save or build assets. He added that long-term security has slipped out of reach for most wage earners.
The labour leader said financial strain is worsening alongside physical insecurity. Armed violence, terrorism, banditry and kidnappings continue to disrupt lives and livelihoods across many regions.
Inflation, wages, and food pressure
The union said inflation remains the most immediate threat to workers’ purchasing power. Nigeria’s inflation rate stood above 30 percent in 2024, among the highest globally, according to official data.
According to Vanguard, Ajaero said real wages have stagnated or collapsed, especially in the public sector. He said salaries have failed to keep pace with rising prices for years.
The national minimum wage of ₦70,000 no longer covers basic needs, the union said. Ajaero pointed to the cost of rice exceeding the monthly wage for many workers.
Currency depreciation has compounded the pressure. The naira’s decline has pushed up prices for imported goods, fuel and essential services.
Food inflation has hit households hardest. The NLC said many families now spend as much as 80 percent of their income on food, leaving little for housing or transport.
Rising fuel prices have lifted transportation costs and production expenses. Those increases have filtered through to prices across the economy.
Unemployment and underemployment remain widespread, the union said. The surplus of job seekers has weakened bargaining power and expanded insecure informal work.
Social protection under strain
The NLC said social safety nets remain weak or absent for many workers. Health insurance, unemployment benefits and pension coverage fail to reach much of the workforce.
Even formal pension schemes deliver limited support due to low contributions and economic volatility. That undermines confidence in future retirement income.
Housing and transport costs continue to climb faster than wages. Some workers now stay at their workplaces during the week to avoid daily commuting costs.
Multiple taxes and deductions further reduce take-home pay. The union said workers see little return in public services.
Electricity tariffs, telecom charges and road tolls add to household strain. Poor infrastructure forces workers to fund power, water, security and healthcare privately.
The NLC said insecurity and displacement have destroyed livelihoods in many regions. Families often lose homes and savings when violence erupts.
Without decisive government action, the Nigerian workers survival crisis will deepen, the union warned. It said restoring income growth and social protection is critical to economic stability.
