The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced that state councils where the N70,000 new minimum wage is not being fully implemented will commence an indefinite strike starting December 1, 2024.....Read Full Article>>
This decision comes as the NLC calls on the Federal Government to reconsider its policies, which it claims are pushing Nigerians into poverty.
In a communiqué issued by NLC President Joe Ajaero after the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the union expressed concern over the treatment of Rivers State workers. It condemned the withholding of funds intended for workers’ salaries and benefits due to the state’s ongoing political crisis, warning that such actions would not be tolerated.
The communiqué read: “The NEC is deeply frustrated by the continuous delay and outright refusal of certain state governments to implement the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act. This failure, by some governors and government officials, is both illegal and immoral, as workers are being denied their rightful wages amid worsening economic conditions. It represents a flagrant disregard for the law and for the millions of Nigerian workers who are being exploited by those sworn to protect them.
“The NEC has resolved to establish a National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee, which will begin a nationwide assessment, mobilization, and sensitization campaign to educate workers and the public on the need to resist this assault on their rights and dignity.
“Additionally, the NLC will initiate industrial actions in all non-compliant states and will not relent until the minimum wage is fully implemented nationwide. Accordingly, all state councils where the minimum wage has not been fully implemented by November 30, 2024, are instructed to proceed with a strike starting December 1, 2024. Nigerian workers demand justice, and justice they shall have.”
On the escalating economic difficulties, the communiqué added: “The NEC expresses grave concern over the worsening economic hardship facing Nigerian citizens. Inflation remains unchecked, and the cost of living continues to rise, leaving essential goods out of reach for the average worker. Millions of Nigerians are being pushed into poverty, forced to choose between basic needs like food and healthcare. Access to energy has become a distant dream, and workers are growing poorer as they work longer hours just to make ends meet. The return of nutritional diseases such as Kwashiorkor and Marasmus is a sign of the growing crisis.
“The NLC demands urgent, tangible actions from the Federal Government, not mere token measures, to alleviate this suffering. We call for comprehensive social protection policies that will protect Nigerians from poverty, ensure affordable healthcare, and guarantee wages that reflect the real cost of living. We also call for a nationwide wage review and the revision of policies that have further impoverished the Nigerian people.”
Regarding the political situation in Rivers State and the unjust withholding of revenue, the communiqué stated: “The NEC condemns the troubling political situation in Rivers State, where a recent court order is preventing the disbursement of federally allocated revenue. This action, under the pretext of legal processes, could severely hamper the state’s ability to fulfill its obligations to workers and citizens.
“This is a direct attack on the rights and welfare of the people of Rivers State and sets a dangerous precedent that could destabilize governance in other states. The NLC stands in solidarity with the workers and people of Rivers State and demands the immediate resolution of this matter, ensuring the state’s rightful access to its revenue.
“Nigerian workers will not stand idly by while their livelihoods are threatened by political maneuvering and vindictive actions. We are not concerned with the politics of who is right or wrong but with protecting the interests of workers and the people. It is crucial to separate politics from the issues that affect the lives of ordinary Nigerians, as politics that harms workers and citizens cannot serve the best interests of our nation.”