The Gani Fawehinmi Memorial Organisation (GAFAMORG) has urged the Nigerian government to reassess how workers' welfare is measured, emphasizing that a salary increase does not necessarily translate to a living wage. In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comrade Babatunde Agunbiade, and Public Relations Officer, Comrade Ade Adeoye Adewumi, the organisation stressed that the real test of any wage increase is its impact on workers' purchasing power. GAFAMORG's call comes amid concerns that workers may receive substantial pay increases yet still struggle to afford basic necessities.
GAFAMORG acknowledged the sacrifices of Nigerian soldiers, including their exposure to danger, separation from families, and difficult working conditions. The organisation believes that soldiers deserve not only decent pay but also adequate accommodation, healthcare, family welfare, and dignified retirement. However, GAFAMORG emphasized that their welfare should not be evaluated solely based on the size of a salary increase. The organisation argued that if the cost of living rises faster than a soldier's income, their overall well-being does not improve.
The organisation urged the government to adopt a national framework for living dignity that covers various sectors, including soldiers, police officers, teachers, health workers, civil servants, and workers in the informal and gig economies. GAFAMORG also called for stronger social protection measures, such as healthcare, social pensions, disability support, unemployment assistance, and childcare. According to the organisation, these measures should complement a living wage rather than substitute for it.
GAFAMORG proposed the implementation of indexation mechanisms that link wages and pensions to significant changes in the cost of living. The organisation warned that wage increases can quickly lose their value when prices rise. Furthermore, GAFAMORG cautioned against pitting workers against one another in debates over pay, emphasizing that the focus should be on creating a framework that guarantees living dignity for every worker and family.
The organisation also highlighted the need for greater protection for informal workers, who contribute significantly to the economy but lack access to pensions, healthcare, and unemployment protection. GAFAMORG proposed a national economic dignity framework built around four principles: living wage, social wage, wages and pensions that respond to inflation, and protection of purchasing power.
According to GAFAMORG, the legacy of Chief Gani Fawehinmi demands that economic justice be evaluated based on the actual living conditions of ordinary Nigerians. The organisation asked whether families can afford food and housing, access healthcare and education, and look forward to retirement with dignity. GAFAMORG emphasized that these questions should define economic justice.
GAFAMORG has invited Nigerians to participate in its anonymous People's Living Dignity Test 2026, designed to capture citizens' experiences of household living conditions and contribute evidence to the national debate on a living wage. The organisation urged the government to shift its focus from percentage increases to the actual impact of income on workers' lives, asking: "What does this income actually buy? Has purchasing power improved? Can the family live with dignity?"
Key points
- GAFAMORG calls for a national framework for living dignity covering various sectors.
- The organisation proposes indexation mechanisms to link wages and pensions to changes in the cost of living.
- GAFAMORG emphasizes that a salary increase is not automatically a living wage.
