The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will launch a nationwide campaign for a review of the national minimum wage while pressing for the introduction of a national minimum pension for retirees, its president Joe Ajaero said on Monday.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Godwin Abumisi Pensioners’ Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja, Ajaero said organised labour would no longer pursue higher wages for workers without also demanding improved welfare for pensioners.

“The Nigeria Labour Congress is currently in the preparatory stages for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage,” Ajaero said.

He described it as a “historical injustice” that Nigerians who had devoted their productive years to public service were left to live below the poverty line after retirement.

Ajaero said soaring inflation and the rising cost of living had worsened the hardship facing many pensioners, making it increasingly difficult for them to meet basic needs.

He urged retirees to remain united as the labour movement prepared for the campaign, insisting that every pensioner deserved to live with dignity after decades of service.

The NLC president also called for the immediate payment of outstanding pension arrears and the implementation of a pension system that guarantees retirees financial security.

The labour union has repeatedly demanded improvements to workers’ welfare, but Ajaero said future campaigns would equally prioritise the rights and living conditions of retired workers.