Edo workers demand exit from Contributory Pension Scheme, increase in minimum wage

As workers in Nigeria join others globally to mark the 2026 Workers’ Day, the organised labour in Edo State has called for the exit of workers employed before 2017 in the State from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

The organised labour made up of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) made the call on Friday, May 1, 2026 in Benin City.

Bernard Eguakhide, state chairman, NLC and Joseph James Wasah, his TUC counterpart in their separate speech urged the State Governor Monday Okpebholo to return the affected workers to the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).

The duo noted that the imposition of the CPS on workers who were employed under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) represented a clear deviation from fair principle.

Eguakhide said the action has generated deep dissatisfaction across the workforce.

He opined that restoring the DBS is to restore confidence, loyalty and hope in the hearts of workers.

According to him, “Our workers today no more retire to their well-earned rest, but into a future gambled into the hand of the Pension Funds Administrators by the callous regime of the previous.

“The continued inclusion of workers employed before 2017 in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), a policy which, in both principle and application contradicts established norms of fairness and legal propriety has become a serious concern to our workers across the state.

“It is a well-established principle that laws are not intended to operate retrospectively where such application imposes hardship or alters preexisting contractual expectations.

“A return to the DBS has no financial lost but a huge return in billions to the State Government which can be re-channeled strategically to pension matters.

“In light of the foregoing, we respectively demand the full exit of all pre-2017 employees from the CPS and their return to the DBS under which they were originally employed.”

On his part, Joseph James Wasah, TUC chairman, opined that if the issues surrounding the contributory pension scheme remain unresolved and continue to affect workers’ confidence in their future security.

The organised labour also agitated for the increase of minimum wage from the state government, saying that the N75,000 is no longer sustainable due to inflation and cost of petroleum products.

Eguakhide added that over 70 percent of workers spend most of their income on basic survival.

“Inflation remains around 28 percent to 30 percent, food prices have increased by over 50 percent, transportation costs have surged by over 50 percent.

“The result is clear. Workers are getting poorer despite working harder, wages are no longer sufficient to guarantee a decent standard of living.

“Upward review of the minimum wage from N70,000 to N75,000, as the N75, 000 minimum wage can no longer take workers to their work place and back home due to the price increase in petroleum products all over the world today,” he stated

The NLC state chairman, however, decried the State Governor Monday Okpebholo’s unfulfilled promise to recruit 3,000 primary school teachers.

He also appealed to the Governor to pay teachers’ monthly salaries alongside with the core civil servants on or before 25th.

Eguakhide who described the theme of this year, “Insecurity and Poverty: The Bane of Decent Work,” noted that it speaks directly to the harsh realities confronting workers in our nation and the world at-large as a result of the continued war in some part of the world that has affected crude oil price all over the world including Nigeria.

On his part, the State TUC chairman, Joseph Jame Wasah, decried the consequential adjustment of the N75,000 minimum wage implementation by the State’s Accountant-General.

Wasah while noting also calling for the review of the N75,000 minimum wage, he opined that inflation and rising fuel and food costs have already eroded those gains.

He also noted that a real living wage is not just survival pay but a foundation of dignity.

“There is an urgent for wage review in 2026. Current earnings no longer meet basic needs due to escalating inflation and widespread suffering. Workers need wages that guarantee life, not mere survival.

“Edo State workers deserve wages that match inflation, immediate cost-of-living support, and long-term policies that restore dignity. We also call for the immediate release of buses to ease transportation difficulties for civil and public servants,” he added.

He also called for immediate relief for Edo State workers from rising costs. The TUC State chairman, who tagged the rising costs as ‘A Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA)’ stated that the COLA must be introduced for all workers to cushion the impact of fuel price hikes linked to the Iran crisis.

He posited that without the intervention, workers will continue to sink deeper into hardship.

In his address, Governor Monday Okpebholo said due to the concerns raised by the organised labour on contributory pension scheme, a high-powered committee has been constituted to review and advised him on the complaints.

Okpebholo, represented by Dennis Idahosa, his deputy, reeled out several achievements of the administration over the past one year.