Rethink Labour welfare strategy, CPPE urges government

CENTRE for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has called on national and subnational governments to fundamentally rethink labour welfare strategy to enable Nigerian workers survive the current economic realities.

The Centre made the plea in its policy brief, tagged: “Beyond Wage Increases: Reframing Labour Welfare Priorities in Nigeria,” issued on Thursday.

It expressed concerns that discourse on labour welfare had been largely dominated by wage negotiations, particularly against the backdrop of rising inflation and escalating cost-of-living pressures.

The organisation argued that while wage adjustments were necessary and often justified, it believed they had become a clearly insufficient as a standalone strategy for improving workers’ welfare, especially in an economy characterised by persistent inflationary pressures and structural bottlenecks, and weak public service delivery.

The centre called for a fundamental shift in labour advocacy, from a narrow wage-centric approach to a broader, more holistic welfare framework, in alignment with the nation’s economic realities.

It also advocated a broader cost-of-living focus, and more strategic focus on cost-of-living reduction, so that improved job security and improved public service delivery, which it believed, would yield more meaningful and sustainable welfare outcomes.

CPPE argued that such comprehensive welfare framework, anchored on structural reforms and strong institutions, had become imperative to improving workers’ quality of life and advancing inclusive economic growth.

While advocating a transition from ‘wage-centric’ to welfare-centric labour engagement, the organisation said such transition must focus on structural cost drivers and access to essential services.

“There is also a compelling need to strengthen public service delivery in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, transportation, and power, as this would significantly reduce household expenditure burdens.

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“In addition, policies that promote productivity in agriculture, energy, and logistics should be prioritised to support sustainable welfare gains. Regulatory enforcement must be strengthened, particularly in areas of labour protection, pension compliance, and workplace standards. Finally, government should accelerate efforts to build robust and inclusive social protection systems,” it added.