nasu urges the federal government to review the ₦70,000 minimum wage, address rising living costs and provide urgent relief from high food prices, transport fares, electricity tariffs, rent and healthcare expenses.
The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has urged the Federal Government to review Nigeria’s national minimum wage, warning that rising living costs have made it increasingly difficult for workers to meet their families’ basic needs.
The union also called for urgent interventions to reduce the financial pressure caused by high food prices, transportation fares, electricity bills, housing costs and healthcare expenses. It maintained that economic reforms must improve the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians rather than deepen poverty and inequality.
NASU President, Dr Makolo Hassan, made the demands in his welcome address at the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, scheduled to hold in Abuja from Tuesday, October 13, to Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
Hassan argued that the existing ₦70,000 national minimum wage no longer reflects the economic realities facing Nigerian workers. He called for a living wage that would enable employees to maintain decent living standards and provide financial security for their households.
Although he acknowledged the introduction of the ₦70,000 minimum wage as a significant achievement for organised labour, he said subsequent increases in the cost of essential goods and services had substantially reduced its purchasing power.
According to the NASU president, higher petroleum prices and the rising costs of food, housing, transportation, electricity and medical services have made workers’ earnings inadequate to cover their daily expenses.
He therefore urged the Federal Government to begin an immediate review of the minimum wage and establish a system of periodic adjustments based on inflation and changes in the cost of living.
Hassan stressed that the success of economic reforms should be determined by the tangible benefits they deliver to households, workers and communities, rather than by favourable assessments from business and financial circles.
NASU Raises Alarm Over Cost-of-Living Crisis
The union president described the rising cost of living as one of the most pressing challenges confronting Nigerian workers and their families.
He noted that even where official inflation figures indicate improvement, many households continue to struggle with the cost of food, transportation, rent, school fees, medicines, electricity and other essential expenses.
Hassan cited a food inflation rate of 19.57 per cent in July 2026, identifying access to affordable food as a major national concern requiring urgent government attention.
He called for sustained assistance to farmers, stronger security in agricultural communities, improved storage and transportation facilities, and greater investment in domestic food production.
The NASU leader also expressed concern over projections that nearly 35 million Nigerians could experience acute and severe food insecurity during the 2026 lean season. He described the forecast as a national emergency requiring coordinated and sustained intervention.
Hassan maintained that workers who contribute to national development should not be left unable to afford adequate food for their families.
Union Demands Relief From Fuel and Transportation Costs
Addressing the effects of petrol subsidy removal and rising fuel prices, Hassan said higher transportation fares, food costs and production expenses continued to erode workers’ earnings.
He called on the government to ensure that domestic refining translates into lower costs and practical benefits for Nigerians, rather than primarily improving economic indicators or increasing the profits of industry operators.
He also urged authorities to protect households and productive businesses from fluctuations in international oil prices and exchange-rate movements.
NASU further advocated the expansion of affordable and dependable public transportation, including bus services, rail networks and other mass transit systems.
Hassan said government-supported Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiatives and related intervention programmes should be evaluated to establish whether they were delivering meaningful financial relief to workers.
He warned that employees should not continue to shoulder the heaviest costs of economic reforms while receiving insufficient protection from their consequences.
NASU Calls for Fair Electricity Tariffs and Better Power Supply
On electricity, the union demanded affordable power for households and businesses, universal metering and an end to arbitrary estimated billing.
Hassan called for an electricity tariff structure that prioritises fairness, service quality and the welfare of consumers. He argued that workers should not be expected to pay higher charges without corresponding improvements in electricity supply.
He also called for closer scrutiny of the service-based electricity tariff system and the updated 2026 Multi-Year Tariff Orders (MYTO).
According to him, reforms in the power sector must ensure that consumers receive reliable service and fair value for the money they pay.
Union Seeks Affordable Housing and Protection Against High Rents
Hassan identified rising housing costs as another major source of financial pressure on Nigerian workers.
He urged the Federal Government to introduce more affordable housing schemes, expand access to mortgage facilities and adopt measures to protect tenants from unreasonable rent increases.
The NASU president maintained that access to decent and affordable accommodation should form part of broader efforts to improve workers’ welfare and living conditions.
NASU Urges Action on Unemployment and Job Security
The union also raised concerns about youth unemployment, underemployment, casual employment practices and the weakening productive capacity of the Nigerian economy.
Hassan called for a comprehensive national employment strategy that would prioritise technical and vocational training, apprenticeship opportunities, industrial skills development and the creation of secure, decent jobs.
He further urged the government to address factory closures and reduce the operating costs confronting businesses, particularly expenses associated with electricity, transportation, raw materials and access to credit.
According to him, protecting existing businesses and supporting the expansion of productive enterprises are essential to generating sustainable employment and strengthening the economy.
Calls for Better Healthcare, Education and Social Protection
The NASU president demanded improved access to healthcare, adequate funding for public education, prompt payment of pensions and gratuities, and stronger social protection programmes for vulnerable Nigerians.
He stressed that economic policies should deliver measurable improvements in public services and help protect citizens who are most exposed to rising living costs.
On public finance, Hassan called for greater transparency and accountability in the management of government revenue and expenditure.
He said increased revenue allocations to state and local governments should result in timely payment of salaries, better infrastructure, improved public services and stronger welfare programmes.
NASU Reaffirms Commitment to Workers’ Rights
Speaking on industrial relations, Hassan reaffirmed the union’s commitment to collective bargaining, freedom of association and the protection of workers’ rights.
He cautioned employers against intimidation, victimisation and other practices that could undermine trade unions or prevent employees from exercising their labour rights.
The NASU leader emphasised that protecting workers’ freedoms and improving workplace conditions remained essential to achieving fairness and stability in industrial relations.
He also called for stronger government action against insecurity, particularly attacks on farmers and rural communities.
Hassan warned that banditry, kidnapping and insurgency threatened lives, disrupted agricultural activities, weakened food supplies and undermined national productivity.
NASU Urges Labour to Prioritise Workers’ Welfare Ahead of 2027 Elections
With Nigeria approaching the 2027 political transition, Hassan urged organised labour to make workers’ welfare a central issue in national political discussions.
He called on political candidates and parties to demonstrate clear commitments to living wages, decent employment, improved security, industrial development and quality public services.
The NASU president maintained that political programmes should be assessed according to their potential to improve the living conditions of workers and the wider population.
He also appealed to members of the union’s National Executive Council to remain united and focused on advancing the interests of their members.
Hassan concluded that sustained engagement, solidarity and collective action would remain important in the pursuit of better working conditions, economic fairness and improved living standards for Nigerian workers.
