NLC gives all state governors Dec 1 deadline to pay new minimum wage of face strike action

STATE governors have been given a December 1 deadline to start paying the new national minimum wage of N70,000 ($42) per month by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) or face the prospect of industrial action.

Over recent months, Nigeria's National Minimum Wage Committee worked on negotiations regarding a new rate to reflect current economic realities. Eventually, President Bola Tinubu waded into the matter, approving a figure of N70,000 per month with a caveat that the matter will be reviewed once every three years from now on.

Most of Nigeria's 36 state governors have begun paying the new minimum wage but some have not, forcing the NLC to threaten strike action. In addition to this, the NLC also accused fuel marketers of inflating petrol prices, claiming the pump price is significantly higher than the actual market value.

Lamenting the state of affairs in the country, the NLC contended that Nigerians were being exploited, with citizens enduring heightened suffering and hunger due to government policies which keep pushing many into destitution. In a communique released yesterday after its national executive council (Nec) meeting, the NLC highlighted the severe economic hardship across the country and called for an urgent review of policies it described as anti-people.

In addition the NLC further directed state councils where the new minimum wage is not yet implemented to commence an indefinite strike starting on December 1, 2024. While a number of states have pledged to meet the N70,000 minimum wage, others have gone further, committing to pay amounts higher than the federal mandate but some are still paying the former paltry sum of N30,000.

As of the first week of November, more than 20 states have announced the implementation of the new minimum wage. The NLC communique thus read: “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."

Also, the NLC observed that there may be a gang-up against Nigerians by fat cats in the petroleum industry as the current price of petrol is significantly higher than the real market price. The NLC communique read: “Padding of costs and abnormal margins seems to be the order of the day considering the revelations from the ongoing controversy between marketers and the 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 Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna to quickly come back on stream.”