Public Relations as a Strategic Tool of Enhancing Employee Welfare: A Critical Analysis of the Minimum Wage Crisis in Nigeria
This article critically examines the role of public relations as a strategic instrument for enhancing employee welfare within the context of Nigeria’s persistent minimum wage crisis. Drawing on stakeholder theory, issues management, and relationship management frameworks, the study argues that public relations functions extend beyond external reputation management to encompass internal stakeholder engagement, particularly in labour relations. The analysis traces the trajectory of minimum wage policy in Nigeria from the N30,000 benchmark established in 2019 to the current N70,000 approval in 2024, revealing systemic implementation failures, uneven compliance across subnational governments, and the erosion of real wages due to hyperinflation. Through a critical lens, the article demonstrates how strategic public relations can bridge the communication gap between government, employers, and labour unions, facilitate transparent dialogue, and foster institutional trust necessary for sustainable wage policy implementation. The study concludes that without embedding public relations into the architecture of labour policy governance, minimum wage legislation risks remaining a symbolic gesture rather than a substantive welfare enhancement mechanism. Recommendations are offered for integrating strategic communication into wage policy design, implementation monitoring, and stakeholder reconciliation processes.
Keywords: public relations, employee welfare, minimum wage, stakeholder engagement, labour relations, Nigeria, strategic communication, issues management
