The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the Federal Government’s decision to postpone negotiations for a new national minimum wage until June 2027, insisting that discussions must begin immediately.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The labour union maintained that preparations for a fresh wage agreement should commence without further delay, alongside measures to reduce petrol prices, introduce tax relief and approve wage awards to cushion the effects of rising living costs on workers.
The demands were outlined in a letter dated October 13, 2026, signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero and addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi.
The Congress warned that the government’s response failed to adequately address the economic challenges confronting Nigerian workers, raising the possibility of an industrial dispute as its 14-day ultimatum continues.
Although the NLC did not declare a strike in the letter, sources within the union reportedly indicated that industrial action could become an option if the outstanding issues were not resolved before the ultimatum expires.
The Federal Government had argued that the current national minimum wage of ₦70,000, which President Bola Tinubu signed into law on July 29, 2024, would not be due for review until June 1, 2027.
In its response to the union’s earlier demands, the government maintained that the law provides for a minimum wage review every three years, making an earlier exercise premature.
Dingyadi argued that beginning another wage review barely two years after the implementation of the existing agreement could disrupt industrial relations.
“Commencing a fresh review exercise barely two years into the implementation of the current wage, which represented an increase of over 133 per cent from the previous minimum wage of ₦30,000, would be premature, inconsistent with the law, and disruptive to the orderly industrial relations system envisaged by the Act,” the minister stated.
The government also highlighted measures introduced to ease economic hardship, including the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative, food security programmes and other social intervention schemes.
It added that the Ministry of Labour was engaging relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to address the remaining demands, while assuring the union that the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee would be convened at the appropriate time.
However, the NLC insisted that the government’s response failed to resolve the fundamental issues raised by organised labour.
While acknowledging the ministry’s relatively swift response, the Congress stressed that a prompt reply without concrete action would not provide meaningful relief to workers.
“The Congress notes that, for the first time in recent history, the Ministry has responded with relative speed to our resolutions. We acknowledge this departure from the usual culture of bureaucratic silence,” the letter stated.
It added, “However, while we appreciate this prompt acknowledgement, we are constrained to observe that speed without substance may amount to an empty gesture.”
The union described the government’s position as inconsistent with the principles of law, economic realities and social justice.
At the centre of the disagreement is the interpretation of the National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, as amended in 2024.
While the Federal Government maintains that the next review is due in June 2027, the NLC argues that the timeline should be calculated from the original legislation enacted in 2019.
According to the Congress, the original Act was signed into law on April 18, 2019, meaning that a review was due by April 18, 2024.
“The National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, which the 2024 Amendment Act amended, was signed into law on 18 April 2019. Under the clear provisions of that Act, a review was statutorily due by 18 April 2024,” the union argued.
The NLC maintained that the 2024 amendment did not repeal the original legislation or eliminate the statutory timeline for reviewing the minimum wage.
The union also recalled that organised labour had agreed to reduce retrospective wage arrears during the 2024 negotiations following appeals from the government over the financial burden on employers and public institutions.
It insisted that the concession should not be interpreted as an abandonment of the statutory review timeline.
The Congress further argued that negotiations for a new minimum wage should begin at least six months before the proposed implementation date to prevent delays and the accumulation of unpaid arrears.
Based on this position, the union said negotiations should commence by October 17, 2026.
It clarified that it was not demanding the immediate implementation of a new minimum wage but wanted the negotiation process to begin without further delay.
“The Government is not being asked to implement a new wage immediately, but to commence the negotiation process,” the letter stated.
The proposed steps include obtaining nominations from relevant stakeholders, inaugurating the tripartite committee and establishing an agenda for negotiations.
According to the NLC, beginning the process early would give the government, employers and organised labour sufficient time to agree on a new wage.
NLC Raises Alarm Over Declining Value Of ₦70,000 Minimum Wage
Beyond the legal disagreement, the labour union argued that rising living costs had significantly eroded the purchasing power of the current ₦70,000 minimum wage.
It noted that although the statutory wage increased from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000, workers had not experienced a corresponding improvement in their ability to afford essential goods and services.
The Congress attributed the situation to inflation, the depreciation of the naira and increasing prices of basic commodities.
“The Federal Government must understand that a wage increase immediately eroded by inflation is not a meaningful improvement in workers’ purchasing power; it is merely a statistical illusion. While the nominal wage increased by 133 per cent, real wages have actually declined,” the union stated.
The NLC also blamed rising petrol prices for increasing transportation costs and driving up the prices of food and other necessities.
It said many Nigerian workers were struggling to meet basic expenses, including food, rent, healthcare, education and transportation.
The union further questioned the effectiveness of the CNG initiative, alleging that inadequate infrastructure, gas supply shortages and limited availability of conversion kits had prevented many Nigerians from benefiting fully from the programme.
“Workers cannot feed their families with an initiative that has yet to deliver the promised relief, especially when their children are hungry today,” the letter stated.
NLC Lists Demands, Warns Against Further Delays
The Congress called on the Federal Government to implement immediate measures to ease the economic pressure on Nigerian workers.
Its demands include:
- Petrol price reduction: Lower petrol prices to the level prevailing when the current minimum wage was signed into law in 2024.
- Tax relief: Implement tax relief measures agreed upon in 2023.
- Wage awards: Approve immediate wage awards to help workers cope with rising living costs.
- JOHESU agreement: Implement the terms of settlement reached with the Joint Health Sector Unions.
- JPSNC demands: Resolve outstanding issues raised by the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council.
- Minimum wage negotiations: Begin discussions on a new national minimum wage without further delay.
The NLC maintained that the government could provide meaningful relief if it demonstrated sufficient political will.
“Procrastination is no longer a policy choice; it constitutes a direct threat to the survival and well-being of Nigerian workers,” the letter stated.
The union also warned that continued discussions without clear timelines or immediate relief measures would fail to address workers’ concerns.
“We acknowledge your assurance that your office remains open to dialogue. However, dialogue without concrete timelines and immediate relief measures amounts to mere rhetoric,” it added.
The Congress reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing improved working conditions and economic relief for Nigerian workers.
However, the letter did not announce a specific date for a strike, leaving the possibility of industrial action dependent on the outcome of engagements with the Federal Government and the expiration of the union’s ultimatum.
