Workers groaning under rising cost of living, fuel price hikes — NASU
Dr. Hassan Makolo, President of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), has raised alarm over the worsening economic conditions confronting Nigerian workers.
He decried the severe impact of inflation, repeated fuel price increases, and the continued depreciation of the naira, stressing that many workers are “suffocating” under the weight of the economic crisis.
Speaking at the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, Dr. Makolo described the situation as dire, noting that the skyrocketing cost of basic necessities has pushed countless families to the edge of survival.
“Workers are suffocating under the high cost of living,” he said. “The prices of food, transportation, housing, and even healthcare have become completely unaffordable.”
“Our wages no longer reflect the realities of today’s economy. Inflation has wiped out the value of salaries, leaving many workers unable to meet basic needs. The situation is even worse for workers in some states who continue to receive amputated or irregular salaries.”
Dr. Makolo argued that the government must move beyond the traditional minimum wage structure to implement a living wage policy. This policy, he said, must adjust periodically to inflation and cost-of-living indices, ensuring that workers can live and work with dignity.
The NASU President highlighted that Nigeria’s persistently high inflation rate, rising energy costs, and the significant devaluation of the naira following exchange rate unification have severely eroded the real value of workers’ wages. This has pushed the cost of living far beyond the reach of the average Nigerian.
“As Organised Labour, we must intensify our collective advocacy for fair wage adjustments, stronger social protection policies, and accountability in economic management,” he stressed. “Together, we will continue to defend the dignity and welfare of every worker in these challenging times.”
He urged the government to strengthen economic policies that will stabilize prices, invest in local production, and improve transport and energy infrastructure to reduce costs and ease the burden on citizens.
The union leader also drew attention to the precarious future facing young people, graduates, and skilled professionals due to rising unemployment and underemployment. He noted that the informal sector now dominates the employment market, absorbing nearly 80 percent of workers, most of whom operate under precarious and unregulated conditions.
Makolo called for the government to focus on job creation through expanded vocational training, support for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), and increased investment in labor-intensive industries.
On security, he lamented that “Insecurity, from kidnappings, banditry to terrorism, threatens Nigerians, including workers’ lives and livelihoods, as well as every other person resident in the country.” He concluded that addressing insecurity requires a comprehensive, multi-dimensional approach, including strengthening intelligence gathering, deploying modern technology, ensuring political will, eliminating corruption in security spending, and addressing youth unemployment.
