The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given state governments and employers until the end of March to fully implement the national minimum wage and necessary salary adjustments. The union has warned that any failure to comply will result in serious consequences.
Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), made this known during a one-day National Leadership Retreat in Abuja. The retreat, themed “Leadership Challenges amongst Activists,” was organized for the National Administrative Committee Members of SSANU.
Ibrahim, who also serves as the National Internal Auditor of the NLC, noted that many states and institutions have been delaying the proper implementation of the minimum wage. He stated that while the law mandates payment, some employers have been manipulating the figures to avoid full compliance.
“The national minimum wage has been signed into law, and payments should have commenced nationwide,” he said. “But in most institutions and states, what they did was just to award a certain amount or a figure they are merely using to play with the intelligence of workers as minimum wage.”
Ibrahim assured workers that the NLC is actively addressing the issue and will take strong measures to ensure compliance before the end of the first quarter.
“Any state or employer of labour that refuses to implement the national minimum wage and the adjustment in workers’ salaries accordingly will face the consequences. The labour laws are there, and we have all that it takes to enforce our rights against those employers,” he stated.
Speaking further, Ibrahim addressed internal challenges within labour movements. He noted that some union members sabotage strike actions, making it difficult to achieve collective goals.
“Unfortunately, some of our own members work against our collective struggle. They engage in blackmail and underhand dealings to derail strike actions,” he said. “But this is not unique to SSANU; it happens in every sector.”
He pointed out that the effectiveness of strikes has reduced over time due to government indifference and worker fatigue. However, he assured that while strikes remain an option, the union is exploring other negotiation strategies to push for workers’ rights.
Ibrahim also stressed the need for continuous training of university staff and increased funding for tertiary institutions. He noted that universities should remain centers of learning and innovation, which requires constant investment in staff development.
“As leaders of this great union, we must ensure that our national executives are equipped with the latest global trends,” he said. “SSANU is an affiliate of NLC, and we have benefited from international training programmes. It is important that we bring this knowledge back home and share it at all levels.”
The retreat had in attendance former NLC President Ayuba Wabba, former SSANU President Chief Promise Adeusi, and the Director-General of the Institute of Mentoring and Coaching, Mr. Rotimi Mathew.
