Living wage, 2027 elections: NLC rallies workers for tough battles ahead

• Says fight for better Nigeria must be unwavering By Victor Ahiuma-Young As Nigeria inches closer to another round of national minimum wage negotiations and the 2027 general elections, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, is expanding its agenda beyond the familiar struggle for higher wages. It is positioning organised labour as a decisive political and social force capable of influencing not only workers’ welfare but also the direction of governance in Nigeria . At its 2026 Rain School in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the Congress unveiled what amounted to a broad ideological roadmap for the labour movement, calling on workers to prepare simultaneously for battles over a living wage, stronger labour protections, democratic accountability and greater participation in shaping Nigeria’s political future.

Addressing participants including union leaders and labour activists from across the country, NLC President, Joe Ajaero, declared that the era of workers serving merely as voting blocs or passive spectators in Nigeria’s democracy must come to an end. Instead, he urged organised labour to rediscover its collective strength and prepare to become what he described as the country’s “critical force for change.” “The theme of this year’s school: The Working Class and the Politics of 2027, is deliberately chosen and profoundly strategic,” Ajaero said. “It declares that we, the producers of the nation’s wealth, refuse to be passive observers in the political process.

We are the engine of the economy, the hands that build this nation, and we will not be treated as mere objects of political manipulation.” Workers can shape 2027 For Ajaero, the political significance of Nigeria’s workforce extends far beyond election-day voting. He argued that workers possess enormous industrial and political influence but have failed to deploy it effectively over the years. According to him: “While many of us workers may feel overwhelmed by rising inflation, stagnant wages and worsening living conditions, we remain the country’s greatest organised force.

“When you look at your payslip and see a pittance that cannot feed your family, when you see the cost of food, accommodation, transportation and healthcare spiralling out of control, it is easy to feel powerless. You are the lifeblood of this nation. You are the critical force that can force change.” The NLC Presi…