The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has instructed its members to commence an industrial action in 15 states, including Oyo, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and 13 others, starting on Monday, December 2, 2024.
This action follows the failure of these states to implement the newly signed national minimum wage of N70,000, which was enacted into law by President Bola Tinubu.
The affected states include Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Imo, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Oyo, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara. Workers in these states have reportedly continued to receive wages based on the outdated salary structure, and there has been no clear commitment or timeline for the implementation of the updated wage.
The decision for industrial action was made following resolutions passed by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NLC during a meeting in Port Harcourt on November 8, which was later reaffirmed by the Central Working Committee (CWC) in Kano on November 27, 2024. The primary aim of the strike is to force state governments to adhere to the new national wage structure.
In a statement signed by Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, the General Secretary of the NLC, the Congress expressed deep disappointment over the non-compliance with the new wage law. “Failure to commence implementation by the end of November 2024 leaves us no option but to enforce industrial action as directed by NEC and CWC,” the statement read.
The NLC also issued a stern warning to state leaders, insisting that the new minimum wage must be implemented immediately. “Non-compliance will attract dire consequences,” the statement further stressed.
Furthermore, the NLC has instructed state chapters to monitor the situation closely and report any developments or progress to its leadership without delay.
It is important to note that the new minimum wage of N70,000 was signed into law by President Tinubu in July 2024 after extensive negotiations between the government, labour unions, and the private sector. The ongoing delay in its implementation has led to growing dissatisfaction among workers, prompting the NLC to take a firm stance on enforcing the wage law across the country.
