In a fierce reaction to the country’s deepening economic strain, the Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organization (GAFAMORG) has thrown its full weight behind the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), declaring that temporary fuel relief measures are insufficient to address the nationwide cost-of-living crisis.
The rights group argued that Nigeria must urgently pivot toward a sustainable national policy centred on a true living wage and comprehensive social protection to restore human dignity to the country’s workforce.
The intervention follows escalating tensions over recent fuel price hikes, which have triggered a domino effect across the economy.
GAFAMORG noted that the rising cost of fuel has directly inflated the prices of transportation, food, housing, healthcare, and education, systematically eroding the purchasing power of average Nigerians.
“While temporary relief may provide short-term assistance, it cannot replace a sustainable national policy that enables Nigerians to live with dignity,” the organisation stated in a press release, urging the Federal Government to respond constructively and transparently to labour’s demands.
A central theme of GAFAMORG’s critique is the distinction between the legally mandated National Minimum Wage and a genuine living wage.
The organisation emphasised that a minimum wage serves only as a legal floor, whereas a true living wage must be robust enough to cover the actual, current costs of essential needs.
Consequently, any future wage adjustments must be measured by their real-world purchasing power rather than just nominal numerical increases.
To address these systemic vulnerabilities, GAFAMORG outlined a six-point agenda demanding immediate action from the government. The framework calls for:
1. Immediate and transparent relief from fuel-related economic hardship.
2. Evidence-based minimum wage negotiations that accurately reflect the current cost of living.
3. A clear pathway toward a Living Wage driven by regular reviews and collective bargaining.
4. Stronger enforcement of existing wage laws and collective agreements.
5. A comprehensive ‘Social Wage’ that includes affordable healthcare, quality public education, subsidized transportation, housing support, and reliable pensions.
6. Inclusive policies designed to protect public, private, informal, and self-employed workers, alongside pensioners.
The organisation stressed that a living wage and a social wage must advance in tandem, asserting that the ultimate test of government policy is whether ordinary citizens can afford a decent standard of living without being trapped in permanent financial insecurity.
In parallel with its policy demands, GAFAMORG has amplified its call for public participation through the launch of the People’s Living Dignity Test 2026.
The voluntary questionnaire aims to gather the lived experiences of ordinary citizens regarding wages, public services, and inflation, effectively bringing grassroots realities into the national discourse.
While clarifying that the platform is not a substitute for official statistics, GAFAMORG described it as a vital tool for public expression.
The group urged the NLC, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), civil society organisations, academics and the broader public to widely share and support the initiative to ensure everyday voices are heard in the fight for economic justice.
