The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed its members in 15 states, including Oyo and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to embark on an indefinite strike starting Monday, December 2, 2024.
This decision comes after the affected states failed to implement the new national minimum wage of N70,000, which was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in July 2024. Workers in these states continue to receive salaries based on the outdated wage structure, with no firm agreements or timelines for compliance.
The states affected are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, the FCT, Imo, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Oyo, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.
The NLC’s action follows resolutions made during its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Port Harcourt on November 8, 2024, and reaffirmed by the Central Working Committee (CWC) in Kano on November 27, 2024. The strike is aimed at pressuring the states to adhere to the nationally agreed wage structure.
In a statement issued by NLC General Secretary Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, the union expressed its dissatisfaction with the situation. “The refusal to implement the new minimum wage by the end of November 2024 leaves us with no choice but to enforce industrial action, as resolved by NEC and CWC,” the statement read.
The NLC also issued a stern warning to state governments, emphasizing that non-compliance would have serious consequences. It further urged its state chapters to monitor developments and report progress to the national leadership promptly.
The N70,000 minimum wage law was introduced to improve the welfare of Nigerian workers amid rising living costs and was finalized after months of negotiations involving the government, labor unions, and the private sector.
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