He said: “The Nigeria Labour Congress will not only push for a new national minimum wage but will also demand the establishment of a national minimum pension. “It is a historical injustice that men and women who devoted their youth, strength and productive years to the service of this nation should be condemned to live below the poverty line after retirement.”

He pointed to the soaring cost of food, healthcare and transportation as evidence that existing pension arrangements have become inadequate, calling them “poverty wages” that strip retirees of their dignity.

Ajaero added: “We cannot continue to allow our senior citizens to survive on pensions that have become poverty wages. Every retiree deserves to live with dignity after decades of faithful service to the nation.”

Furthermore, the NLC helsman told pensioners that their union, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), remains one of the congress’s proud affiliates and that its battles are fully shared by organised labour.

“Your struggle is our struggle, and your welfare remains a priority for the organised labour movement,” he said, calling on both workers and pensioners to prepare for the ideological and economic fights ahead.

Ajaero urged pensioners to treat the newly commissioned Legacy House as more than a building, describing it as a potential hub for mobilisation and strategic action as the broader struggle takes shape.

He also demanded the immediate settlement of all outstanding pension arrears, warning that the working class must remain as united as those who profit from its labour.

Ajaero concluded: “Those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”

In July 2024, the minimum wage rose from N30,000 to N70,000 a month after Nigeria’s two biggest union federations, the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), argued that soaring prices and a weakening currency caused by reforms instituted by President Bola Tinubu were hitting workers hard.

Africa’s most populous nation is grappling with the worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation, igniting constant complaints from government critics.

The new cooking gas depot prices are:

PPMC: N1,010/kg

NIPCO Lagos: N1,025/kg

Rainoil Lagos: N1,030/kg

Matrix Warri: N1,100/k

Industry sources attributed the downward movement to greater competition among suppliers and improved product availability at the wholesale level.

The former vice president also cited the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC Limited’s audited 2024 financial statements, which he said showed ₦7.13 trillion spent on “Energy Security Expenses” — what NNPC itself identifies as petrol subsidy — despite claims that subsidy had been removed in 2023.

Atiku argued that this fiscal indiscipline is reflected in declining living standards, noting that families are skipping meals, small businesses are shutting down, and graduates cannot find jobs, even as government celebrates selective economic indicators.

He also urged the Auditor-General of the Federation, anti-corruption agencies and civil society organisations to independently scrutinise the budget, identify officials responsible for the duplicated allocations, and ensure all improperly appropriated funds are recovered.

Atiku pledged that an ADC administration would restore credibility to public finance through transparent budgeting, zero-based expenditure planning, digital public expenditure tracking and strict personal accountability for public officers.

“When the owner of the barn invites goats to keep watch over his harvest, he should not be surprised when hunger follows abundance. Nigeria deserves custodians of her commonwealth, not Bourdillon caretakers of waste,” he added.