Nigerians Feel the Pain as Economic Growth Fails to Reach Their Pockets

(Nigeria Symbol. Photo by Vanguard News)

A labour union leader says Nigerians are not seeing the economic growth that government claims in its latest figures, even though the economy supposedly grew.

The union president raised concerns about rising fuel prices and said government workers are being hit hardest by rising costs.

He noted that the current minimum wage of N70,000 was already losing value to inflation before it was even fully put into effect.

He explained that negotiations for a new minimum wage will start soon, and the union is preparing to push for better pay that reflects what money actually buys these days.

The leader stressed that when government workers have decent pay, the whole economy benefits.

But when they struggle financially, the entire country suffers as a result.

He blamed much of the problem on the rising cost of fuel, which he said came from removing fuel subsidies.

Now that subsidies are gone, petrol costs whatever the international market charges, and because Nigeria's oil refineries are not working properly, fuel prices have climbed above N1,000 per litre.

Meanwhile, a union leader from the oil and gas sector has called for workers' salaries to keep up with inflation.

He said protecting jobs and making sure workers' pay matches rising costs must be a priority for the industry going forward.