Some state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) will commence industrial action on Monday to demand the implementation of the N70,000 new minimum wage.
The decision follows persistent delays by some state governments to adopt and implement the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act.
The strike is expected to affect workers in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Oyo, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). These states have reportedly failed to adopt the new wage structure, leaving workers frustrated.
During its National Executive Council meeting in Port Harcourt on November 8, the NLC resolved to initiate industrial action, reaffirming this decision at a Central Working Committee meeting in Kano on November 27. The NLC has described the delays as both illegal and unjust, insisting that states must comply with the law.
Despite this directive, some state chapters have distanced themselves from the strike.
In Imo State, NLC Chairman Uche Chigaemezu disclosed that the union would not participate due to an agreement with Governor Hope Uzodimma to implement the N70,000 minimum wage. Similarly, in Sokoto State, Governor Ahmed Aliyu announced the approval of the new minimum wage during the presentation of the 2025 budget. The implementation is scheduled to begin in January 2025, prompting the state NLC to withdraw from the action.
Labour leaders in Oyo State also announced that they would not participate, citing ongoing positive negotiations with the state government. Kayode Martins, the NLC chairman, noted that discussions with the state government were progressing smoothly, while his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Bosun Olabiyi, confirmed their full dissociation from the strike.
Katsina State followed a similar path, with NLC Chairman Hussaini Danduna confirming an agreement with the state government. The TUC Chairman, Mukhtar Abdu-Ruma, added that the new wage, along with consequential adjustments, would take effect in December 2024. In Akwa Ibom State, TUC Chairman Dominic Abang explained that significant progress had been made at the committee level, eliminating the need for industrial action.
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On the other hand, states like Kaduna, Nasarawa, and the FCT have declared their readiness to join the strike. Kaduna State NLC Chairman Ayuba Suleiman confirmed the union’s participation, emphasizing the lack of formal agreements with the state government. In Nasarawa, NLC Chairman Ismaila Okoh revealed that notices had been issued to workers across the state. Similarly, the FCT council of the NLC directed workers in the six area councils to embark on an indefinite strike over the failure to implement the new wage and outstanding arrears for primary school teachers.
In Zamfara State, the NLC announced its participation, citing the government’s failure to pay the new minimum wage. However, the union expressed a willingness to continue discussions with the administration. The FCT Council Chairman, Stephen Knabayi, criticized area council chairmen for disregarding workers’ welfare and violating the law by failing to implement the wage.
Reactions in other states remain mixed. In Abia, the NLC has yet to decide on whether to participate, with no official confirmation from the state leadership. In Jigawa, Governor Umar Namadi approved the new wage, but implementation is delayed until December 2024. Zamfara and Cross River are still negotiating with labour unions, although both governments have expressed readiness to implement the wage once discussions are concluded.
The NLC has dismissed excuses by some state chapters and emphasized that verbal commitments or partial compliance are unacceptable. National Treasurer Akeem Ambali reiterated that the union would proceed with industrial action in states that have yet to implement the new wage, including those offering only verbal promises without formal agreements. He warned that labour would enforce the strike beginning at midnight on November 30, 2024.
The union insists that workers’ welfare must take precedence and urged all states to adopt the N70,000 minimum wage to avert disruptions. The NLC’s Head of Protocol and Public Relations, Benson Upah, stated that only full compliance could prevent the industrial action, stressing that the union remains resolute in its demand for justice and fairness.
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