NASU makes case for N70,000 minimum wage review

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has urged the Federal Government to urgently review the N70,000 national minimum wage amid rising living costs.

NASU President, Mr Makolo Hassan, made the call at the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said rising petrol prices and the cost of food, transportation, housing, electricity and healthcare had rendered the minimum wage inadequate.

“NASU, therefore, calls on the Federal Government to immediately set in motion the necessary machinery for an urgent review of the National Minimum Wage, in line with the prevailing economic realities and the escalating cost of living in Nigeria.

“We maintain that Nigerian workers deserve not merely a minimum wage, but a wage that guarantees decent living conditions and preserves their purchasing power.

“A wage that cannot sustain a worker is neither fair nor decent, and the continued impoverishment of Nigerian workers must be addressed as a matter of utmost urgency,” he said.

Hassan called for periodic wage reviews and cost-of-living adjustments to prevent inflation from eroding workers’ earnings.

He cited food inflation rate of 19.57 per cent in July 2026, and called for increased support for farmers, improved security in farming communities and investment in food production and transportation.

He also demanded affordable electricity, improved public transportation and accessible housing schemes to ease workers’ financial burden.

The NASU president called for secure jobs, an end to casualisation, prompt payment of outstanding entitlements and respect for trade union rights.

He said collective bargaining, freedom of association and the right to assemble  were fundamental workers’ rights that employers should respect.

Hassan also highlighted the signing of the 2026 Federal Government/NASU agreements covering universities and inter-university centres, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

He said the university agreement was signed on June 29, 2026, while those covering polytechnics and colleges of education were signed on Sept. 3, 2026.

He expressed hope that implementation of the agreements would improve workers conditions of service and general welfare.

FG assures NASU of continued dialogue on workers’ welfare

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has assured the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) of its commitment to sustained dialogue to address workers’ welfare concerns and legitimate demands.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Mr Muhammad Dingyadi, gave the assurance while declaring NASU’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting open in Abuja on Tuesday.

Dingyadi said the government recognised NASU’s critical role in sustaining the smooth operation of educational institutions and remained committed to improving workers’ welfare through constructive engagement and collective bargaining.

“We are going to be transparent. We are going to be committed to the welfare of the workers, and we will ensure that we provide the best we can within the limits of international standards,” he said.

The minister assured the union of his readiness to listen to workers’ concerns, stressing that his doors remained open to NASU and other labour unions in the education sector.

“My doors are always open. We will continue to work with you and other unions in the sector to address your legitimate demands through social dialogue and collective bargaining,” Dingyadi said.

He explained that he had participated directly in negotiations with labour unions and the signing of agreements designed to address workers’ concerns, adding that President Bola Tinubu remained committed to their yearnings and aspirations.

“I am not only involved in these negotiations; I am part and parcel of them. I was present when these agreements were signed, and we wanted to ensure that workers were satisfied with what we were providing,” he said.

Dingyadi said the government was working to sustain industrial peace and harmony, noting that NASU members played essential roles in providing administrative, technical and maintenance services in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across the country.

He acknowledged the economic challenges confronting workers and said the government had implemented the N70,000 national minimum wage while pursuing additional measures to improve their welfare and purchasing power.

The minister urged NASU to sustain dialogue, collective bargaining and tripartite engagement as effective mechanisms for resolving industrial disputes, while encouraging its members to promote efficiency, accountability and high work ethics in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Meanwhile, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, said the institution had commenced the payment of outstanding two-month contract arrears owed to workers engaged through its internally generated revenue.

Fawehinmi said the payment followed the receipt of government funds and an agreement reached with the union, adding that the university management was also addressing issues relating to staff conversion, upgrading and promotion to improve workers’ motivation and productivity.

The vice-chancellor explained that the measures were part of the institution’s efforts to address staff concerns and strengthen industrial relations, stressing the importance of cooperation between management and the union in maintaining a conducive working environment.

Earlier, NASU General Secretary, Prince Peters Adeyemi, thanked Dingyadi for attending the meeting despite his busy schedule, describing the minister’s presence and willingness to listen to workers as examples of the fatherly leadership needed by labour unions.

“We need a father who will not run away when his children are in trouble. Honestly, I cannot imagine how easy it is to run the Ministry of Labour and Employment at this time, when workers across the country have numerous issues requiring attention,” Adeyemi said.

Adeyemi urged the minister to sustain engagement with labour unions, stressing that listening to workers was essential to understanding and addressing their concerns.