NLC To Embark On Indefinite Strike Over Non-Implementation Of New Minimum Wage

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed to embark on indefinite strike in states where the new minimum wage has not yet been implemented.

KanyiDaily recalls that President Bola Tinubu signed the minimum wage bill into law on July 29, 2024, raising the country’s minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000.

After a meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) over the weekend, the NLC expressed “deep frustration” over some state governments’ failure to implement the new wage.

The NLC stated that this failure is a clear disregard for the law and the well-being of millions of Nigerian workers.

The union’s NEC has established a committee to carry out a nationwide assessment, as well as a campaign to inform workers and the public about the importance of resisting this injustice.

“This betrayal by certain governors and government officials across the country flies in the face of both legality and morality, as workers continue to be denied their rightful wages amidst rising economic hardship,” the communique reads.

“The NEC therefore resolves to set up a National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee that will among others commence a nationwide assessment, mobilization and sensitization campaign, educating workers and citizens on the need to resist this assault on their dignity and rights.”

The NLC announced it would take industrial action in all states that have not implemented the new wage, starting December 1, 2024, if the issue is not resolved by the end of November.

“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 statement added.

The NLC also condemned the worsening economic hardship affecting Nigerians, highlighting the tough choices citizens face between feeding their families and accessing healthcare.

The union is demanding immediate, substantial action from the Federal Government, rather than temporary solutions, to alleviate the suffering of the people.

It also called for the implementation of comprehensive social protection measures to prevent poverty, provide affordable healthcare, and ensure wages reflect the real cost of living.

“Access to energy has become a mirage while workers become increasingly poorer even as they work longer hours to meet their other basic needs. As a result, nutritional diseases like Kwashiorkor and Marasmus have resurfaced in Nigeria,” it said.

“The NLC demands immediate, concrete interventions from the Federal Government, not token measures, to relieve this suffering.

“We call for the implementation of comprehensive social protection policies that shield Nigerians from poverty, provide affordable healthcare, and ensure a wage that reflects the true cost of living.

“To this end, we call for a wage review across the nation including a review of all the policies that have rather emasculated Nigerian people.”

KanyiDaily recalls that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum had disagreed with the Federal Government over the new minimum wage, stating that it’s not practical and won’t work.