The union said the additional resources available to state and local governments should lead to measurable improvements in the living conditions of workers and ordinary Nigerians, rather than remain limited to higher government earnings.

NASU President, Dr Hassan Makolo, made the call in his welcome address at the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.

Makolo said workers had legitimate reasons to demand transparency and accountability over public funds, stressing that higher revenue should produce tangible benefits for citizens.

He argued that improvements in government finances should be reflected in prompt salary payments, better-equipped schools and hospitals, good roads, access to clean water and stronger social services.


According to the union president, increased public revenue would mean little to workers if their purchasing power and living conditions continued to deteriorate.

Makolo urged governments to publish clear accounts of revenue gains and savings associated with economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies. He maintained that citizens deserved to understand how public funds were being managed and what benefits the resources were delivering.


The NASU president also called for greater transparency in public spending, warning against a situation in which workers continued to struggle with the rising costs of food, transportation, housing, electricity, healthcare and education despite changes in government revenue.

He maintained that the success of economic reforms should be measured not only by financial indicators but also by their effects on households and access to essential services.


Beyond state-level revenue management, Makolo urged the Federal Government to begin a fresh review of the national minimum wage, arguing that the existing ₦70,000 benchmark was no longer sufficient for many workers facing rising living expenses.

The demand comes amid renewed pressure from organised labour for a review of the national minimum wage. In October 2026, the Nigeria Labour Congress also called on the Federal Government to begin negotiations on a new wage and address the economic pressures facing workers.


NASU proposed periodic wage reviews and cost-of-living adjustments to help protect workers’ earnings against inflation. Any change to the national minimum wage, however, would require the relevant negotiation and legal processes.

The union also called for more affordable housing options, accessible mortgage arrangements and measures to address excessive rent increases affecting workers and their families.


On electricity, Makolo urged authorities to ensure that consumers received services that justified the tariffs they paid. He called for universal metering, an end to arbitrary estimated billing and a fairer tariff system linked to service delivery.

The union president further advocated stronger social protection programmes for vulnerable Nigerians, saying such interventions should be transparent, properly funded and integrated into government policy.


He expressed concern about unemployment, casualisation and weaknesses in Nigeria’s productive sector, urging governments to prioritise industrial development, vocational training and the creation of secure and decent jobs.

Makolo also called for sustained investment in public education, healthcare and infrastructure, alongside the prompt payment of pensions and gratuities to retired workers.


On public borrowing, he urged governments to strengthen accountability and ensure that debt servicing commitments did not overshadow essential spending on wages, pensions, education, healthcare and other public services.

With Nigeria approaching the 2027 general elections, the NASU president urged organised labour to keep workers’ welfare at the centre of national discussions. He said political programmes should be scrutinised for their commitments to decent wages, employment, industrial growth, security, social protection and accessible public services.


Makolo also called on members of the union’s NEC to remain united in defending workers’ rights, emphasising that sustained engagement and collective action were necessary to achieve better working conditions.

The union maintained that increased government revenue should ultimately contribute to improved living standards, secure employment and better access to essential services for Nigerians.


Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia