The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a December 1 ultimatum for state governments to implement the new national minimum wage or face industrial action.
This resolution was made in a communique signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero after a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Ajaero expressed frustration over the refusal of some state governments to comply with the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act, describing it as a violation of the law and a betrayal of workers’ rights amid the worsening economic situation.
He noted that many workers are struggling to survive as inflation erodes their purchasing power.
To enforce compliance, the NLC announced the formation of a National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee to conduct a nationwide campaign and mobilize workers for potential industrial action.
State councils that fail to comply by the end of November have been directed to embark on strike starting December 1.
Additionally, the NLC called on the federal government to review wages and introduce urgent interventions to alleviate the hardships faced by Nigerians. Ajaero highlighted the rising costs of living, inadequate healthcare, and energy access, which have driven many Nigerians into poverty.
He also reiterated the NLC’s demand for proper pricing of petrol and the urgent revival of public refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna to break the monopoly in the sector. The congress further called for the release of detained protesters and implementation of comprehensive social protection policies.
While appreciating the federal government’s provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses to ease transportation costs, the NLC noted that the effort remains insufficient due to significant infrastructure deficits.
The NLC remains resolute in its commitment to ensuring the welfare and dignity of Nigerian workers, emphasizing that it will not relent until the new minimum wage is fully implemented across all states.
