The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a firm ultimatum to all state governments, mandating the full implementation of the revised national minimum wage by December 1, 2024.
This announcement came as part of a communique released after the union’s recent National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, where leaders discussed the economic strain faced by Nigerian citizens and their resolve to push for immediate policy changes.
In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved an increase in the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000, aimed at alleviating the financial burden on workers across Nigeria.
However, the implementation of this policy has been uneven, with only a portion of the states adopting the new wage.
To address this delay, the NLC has directed its state councils in regions where the wage increase remains unimplemented to initiate an indefinite strike starting on December 1. This strike aims to ensure that state governments comply with the federal mandate, which the NLC views as essential for workers’ welfare.
Additionally, the NLC voiced its concern over the high price of petrol in Nigeria, claiming that fuel marketers have inflated prices beyond market value. The union pointed to recent controversies between fuel marketers and the Dangote Group, which raised suspicions of unjustified price hikes.
“The NEC, therefore, resolves to set up a National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee that will, among others, commence a nationwide assessment, mobilisation and sensitisation campaign, educating workers and citizens on the need to resist this assault on their dignity and rights.
“Furthermore, the NLC shall initiate a series of industrial actions in all non-compliant states and shall not relent until the minimum wage is fully implemented across Nigeria.
“To this end, all state councils where the national minimum wage has not been fully implemented by the last day of November 2024 have been directed to proceed on strike beginning from the 1st day of December 2024.
“Nigerian workers demand justice, and justice they shall have,” the communique read.
“The NEC-in-session noted with increasing dismay the shenanigans around the appropriate pricing of petrol in Nigeria.
“It observed that there may be a gang-up against Nigerians by fat cats in the industry as the current price of the product is significantly higher than the real market price.
“Padding of costs and abnormal margins seems to be the order of the day considering the revelations from the ongoing controversy between Marketers and Dangote group.
“It is entirely possible that Nigerian workers and masses are being ripped off by those who control the levers of economic power in Nigeria which explains why the domestic public refineries may not immediately be allowed to come on stream.
“NLC demands appropriate pricing of petrol and calls for the Public domestic refineries in PH, Warri and Kaduna to quickly come back on stream,” it added.
