By Atlantic Reports

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has called on the Federal Government to urgently review the ₦70,000 national minimum wage, arguing that it no longer meets workers’ basic needs.

NASU President Makolo Hassan made the demand on Tuesday at the union’s National Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

He said rising petrol prices and the costs of food, transport, housing, electricity and healthcare had placed growing pressure on household incomes.

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

“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.”

The union did not propose a replacement wage figure in the supplied account.

Regular Adjustments and Lower Living Costs

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

He cited a July 2026 food inflation rate of 19.57 per cent and urged government to support farmers, improve security in farming communities and invest in food production and transportation.

His proposals extended beyond wages to the services workers pay for daily. He called for affordable electricity, improved public transport and accessible housing schemes.

These demands place both income and household expenditure at the centre of the union’s argument: higher earnings alone may offer limited relief if essential costs continue to rise.

Job Security and Outstanding Entitlements

The NASU president also demanded secure employment, an end to casualisation and prompt payment of outstanding entitlements.

He urged employers to respect collective bargaining, freedom of association and workers’ right to assemble.

The account did not identify the institutions owing entitlements, the amounts outstanding or the number of workers affected.

Union Awaits Agreement Implementation

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

According to him, the university agreement was signed on June 29, while the polytechnic and college of education agreements were signed on September 3.

He expressed hope that their implementation would improve conditions of service and welfare.

The signing of those agreements is distinct from their delivery. The supplied account did not set out their provisions, implementation deadlines or which benefits workers had received.

For NASU members, the immediate questions are whether government will begin a wage review and when negotiated improvements will translate into payments and better working conditions.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.