The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has warned that raising Nigeria’s national minimum wage to ₦1 million without addressing the country’s economic challenges could collapse the economy.

Ajaero made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television on Thursday, October 29, 2026, amid renewed discussions over workers’ salaries and the rising cost of living.

“N1,000,000 minimum wage will collapse the Nigerian economy,” the NLC president said.

He argued that Nigeria’s problem goes beyond the amount workers receive as salaries, stressing that the government must prioritise restoring the purchasing power of the naira and reducing the cost of essential goods and services.

According to Ajaero, a substantial increase in wages would not necessarily improve workers’ living standards if inflation continued to erode the value of their earnings.

He maintained that workers needed a stable currency and an economy in which their salaries could adequately cover basic necessities, including food, housing and transportation.

The labour leader’s comments come as Nigerian workers face mounting financial pressure from rising petrol prices and other living expenses. Labour unions have repeatedly argued that the current ₦70,000 national minimum wage, signed into law in July 2024, is insufficient to meet workers’ basic needs under prevailing economic conditions.

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Ajaero’s position does not amount to an endorsement of the existing wage level. Rather, he has argued that wage negotiations must be accompanied by measures that tackle inflation and improve the value of workers’ incomes.

The NLC has also pushed for fresh minimum-wage negotiations, insisting that discussions should begin before the current wage agreement expires in 2027. The union has maintained that the government should not delay the process while workers continue to struggle with rising costs.

The debate has intensified following the Federal Government’s approval of a ₦70,000 monthly transport allowance for eligible public servants for six months, beginning in November 2026. The arrangement followed a conciliation meeting with the NLC.

The allowance has, however, generated disagreement within organised labour, with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) rejecting the temporary intervention and calling instead for a more substantial salary increase.

Ajaero’s warning adds another dimension to the debate over how Nigeria can improve workers’ earnings without worsening the economic pressures affecting households, employers and government finances.

The central issue, according to his argument, is not simply how high the minimum wage should be, but whether workers’ earnings can retain enough value to provide a decent standard of living.

No new national minimum-wage figure has been agreed upon by the Federal Government and organised labour as of Thursday, October 29, 2026.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to provide daily, verifiable photographic and video evidence of his presence in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, during his announced Umrah pilgrimage, questioning whether the trip could include an unannounced visit to France.

Atiku made the demand in a statement issued on Wednesday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council.

The opposition leader alleged that information available to him suggested Tinubu might make a brief appearance in Makkah before travelling to France. However, he did not publicly provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.

Atiku called on the Presidency to release clear, current and date-stamped photographs and videos each day showing Tinubu at the Kaaba, the sacred structure at the centre of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, and participating in the religious rites associated with Umrah.

He argued that Nigerians deserved verifiable information about the President’s whereabouts, daily engagements and the purpose of the trip, particularly because the journey had been presented as an opportunity to pray for the country.

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Atiku also raised questions about the President’s health and a reported $20 billion loan request involving a French business partner, urging the Presidency to clarify the issues and disclose Tinubu’s full itinerary.

The former Vice-President said he and other Nigerians would join the President in praying for the country’s peace and progress. He, however, cautioned against invoking religion without sincerity.

“No one should invoke the name of Almighty Allah in vain,” Atiku said, according to the statement.

He maintained that a presidential trip presented as a spiritual mission for Nigeria was a matter of public interest, adding that citizens were entitled to know the President’s official engagements and how the journey was being funded.

The Presidency had earlier announced that Tinubu would depart Abuja on Thursday, October 29, for Makkah to perform Umrah, an Islamic pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time of the year.

Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, said the visit would provide Tinubu with an opportunity for spiritual reflection, devotion and prayers for Nigeria’s peace, unity, stability and progress.

According to the announcement, the President was expected to return to Nigeria the following week after completing the pilgrimage.

The Presidency’s announcement identified Makkah as the destination for the religious exercise. As of the latest reports, Atiku’s allegation of a possible onward journey to France had not been independently verified.

The dispute comes amid heightened political scrutiny as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general election, with opposition figures increasingly questioning the administration’s decisions, public spending and transparency.