Labour unions under the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Ondo State Council and its affiliate unions have called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to review the state’s minimum wage upward to N256,950 for workers.
The unions also demanded an upward adjustment of pension benefits for retirees in the state.
Ondo State currently pays a minimum wage of N73,000, which the unions said is no longer sufficient to meet workers’ needs due to the harsh economic realities in the country.
In a letter dated 19 September 2025 and addressed to Governor Aiyedatiwa, signed by the State Chairman, Comrade Ademola Olapade, and the State Secretary, Comrade Akin Sunday, the NLC commended the governor for ensuring prompt payment of salaries and pensions as well as timely promotion of deserving workers, but insisted that the current wage structure has become unsustainable.
The letter read, “We write on behalf of the workers and pensioners of Ondo State to make a formal and urgent demand for a comprehensive upward review of the new minimum wage in the state. This demand is based on multiple compelling factors rooted in economic reality, rising cost of living and a moral obligation to protect the dignity and welfare of workers and retirees. Your Excellency, it is no longer news that the Nigerian economy has been severely battered by inflation, currency devaluation, removal of fuel subsidy and skyrocketing costs of food, housing, transportation and healthcare. These factors have eroded the value of wages and left the average worker and pensioner in a state of perpetual economic suffocation.”
The union noted that despite the economic hardship, Ondo State, as an oil-producing state, has witnessed a significant increase in internally generated revenue and federal allocations due to improved oil earnings, favourable market conditions and subsidy funds. It recalled that during the last minimum wage negotiation, the government had pledged to review workers’ welfare whenever there was an improvement in the state’s revenue profile.
Citing Imo State as an example, which recently approved a new minimum wage of N104,000 despite not being an oil-producing state, the NLC said Ondo State should not lag behind but instead lead by setting progressive standards that reflect its financial capacity.
The letter added, “Your Excellency, Ondo State is not just any state, it is a critical contributor to Nigeria’s oil revenue. As such, it is unacceptable that its workers and pensioners continue to live under wages that do not reflect the state’s strategic and financial status. Workers are the engine of governance and economic productivity and pensioners are citizens who had served with loyalty during their better years and deserve to live the remainder of their lives with dignity.”
The NLC demanded the immediate upward review of the minimum wage to N256,950, describing the amount as a realistic reflection of current economic indices and survival costs for the average worker. The union also urged the government to establish a negotiation committee comprising officials, labour representatives and stakeholders to deliberate and reach an agreement on the proposed wage structure.
The union emphasized that governance must not only be about policies and projects but also about people’s welfare, stressing that paying workers and pensioners just wages demonstrates respect for the social contract between government and its citizens.
While restating its appreciation to the governor for prompt payment of salaries, pensions and promotions, the NLC concluded, “It is our prayer that God will continue to grant our governor more wisdom to lead Ondo State to a greater height.”
