The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has called on the Federal Government to take immediate action to increase the salaries of federal workers without waiting for the next review of the national minimum wage. TUC President, Comrade Festus Osifo, made this statement during a press briefing in Abuja following the National Administrative Executive Council (NAC) meeting held on Wednesday.

Osifo emphasized that the government has the capacity to independently raise salaries for federal employees or adjust the pay of the lowest-earning workers. He stressed that the minimum wage should be viewed as a statutory wage floor rather than a ceiling that restricts employers from offering higher salaries. "Government does not even need to wait for a new Minimum Wage Act to be signed before government will take care of its workers," he stated.

He provided examples of potential salary adjustments, suggesting that the government could decide to pay the least-paid federal worker between N200,000 and N400,000. Osifo argued that this would not require legislative changes, asserting that it is within the government's authority to enhance workers' pay at any time.

The TUC president pointed out that many employers across various sectors already pay significantly above the statutory minimum wage. He highlighted that salaries for university graduates in sectors such as banking, food and beverage, and oil and gas are often determined by the value of the roles rather than the national minimum wage. "If you are a university graduate and you are to be employed in a bank, are they going to start you from the minimum wage? The answer is no," he remarked.

Osifo also referenced major companies in the food and beverage industry, like Nestlé and Cadbury, stating that they do not base salaries on the minimum wage. He noted that the oil and gas sector follows a similar trend, where companies like Shell and Chevron negotiate compensation based on job value rather than the minimum wage.

The TUC has already engaged with government officials, including the Minister of Finance and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to advocate for measures that would improve workers' welfare. Osifo reiterated that the government should not wait for the next statutory minimum wage review, which is due in 2027, to enhance workers' incomes.

He added that allowances could be adjusted independently of the minimum wage, arguing that workers should not be left to endure the full impact of economic reforms until the next review. "Allowances don’t need a minimum wage conversation, and even salaries, government on its own can actually push the salaries of workers up, even without minimum wage conversation," he concluded.

The current national minimum wage, set at N70,000, was enacted in 2024 for a three-year period, and discussions for the next review are already underway. However, Osifo's comments highlight the urgency for immediate salary improvements to support workers in the interim.