NLC declares strike in FCT, Oyo, Sokoto, 12 other states over failure to implement new minimum wage

Joe Ajaero-led Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has ordered workers in 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to begin industrial action effective from Sunday, December 1, over failures to comply with the N70,000 new minimum wage.

The Informant247 had earlier reported the labour union had set a December 1 ultimatum for the state governments to implement the new minimum wage.

The affected states are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, FCT, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Oyo, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara.

According to a letter dated November 29, 2024, and addressed to all presidents and General Secretaries of all the NLC affiliates, the decision was followed by a resolution by its Central Working Committee in Kano, stating that workers in the non-compliant states were required to proceed on strike to compel the government to implement the new minimum wage law.

The letter signed by NLC General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja stated:  “Recall that NEC of 8th November 2024 in Port Harcourt directed that industrial action to compel the implementation of the new national minimum wage should commence in any state that has not complied by the end of November 2024.

“This position was reinforced by the CWC in Kano on the 27th of November, 2024. Following the above, it is our information that your state has not commenced the said implementation as workers are still paid on the old structure and there is no subsisting agreement to show the date of commencement of the implementation.

“You are hereby directed as a matter of utmost seriousness commence the implementation of the said, NEC and CWC directive, effective Monday, December 2nd, 2924”.

The NLC warned the state branches that failure to adhere strictly to the directive would attract dire consequences.

Source: THIS DAY