The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has drawn a firm line and commenced nationwide industrial action today against non-compliance, despite assurances from some state governments of progress on the N70,000 national minimum wage.
The NLC 2024 National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee Chairman, Amba Titus Audu, said “The directive remains unchanged. Any state that has not implemented the new wage or reached a concrete agreement by today should commence industrial action. We are not aware of any contrary developments.”
Audu challenged states claiming compliance to provide evidence of payment. “Pronouncements or agreements without implementation are insufficient. If states have paid the new wage, they must show proof,” he said.
Also, NLC National Treasurer Akeem Ambali criticised states making verbal commitments without formal agreements or financial backing.
“Empty promises or plans to begin payment in January 2025 are unacceptable. These states will face the full force of the strike,” he said. Ambali disclosed that affiliate unions have been mobilised nationwide to enforce the strike, ensuring no state escapes accountability. “Labour law does not recognise promises without negotiation or payment,” he added.
Similarly, NLC’s Head of Protocol and Public Relations, Benson Upah, affirmed that only full implementation would prevent the strike. “Partial compliance or persuasion will not deter us. The minimum wage must be implemented in full,” he stated.
The directive for the strike followed a resolution from the NLC’s National Executive Council (NEC) and Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting, which was held in Port Harcourt on November 8, 2024.
In a letter signed by NLC General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja, the Congress mandated its state councils to enforce the decision and ensure compliance with the new wage structure.
The letter revealed that some states have not adopted the minimum wage, with workers still receiving the previous wage rates. Highlighted among these defaulting states are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory, Imo, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Oyo, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.
The letter further instructed state councils to begin industrial action immediately to compel compliance, warning that failure to adhere would attract severe consequences from the Congress.
While the NLC appears resolute, reports suggest divisions among states over the strike. Some states have reportedly reached agreements or made commitments, albeit without full implementation.
However, the NLC denied such claims, saying any deviation from the directive would be met with sanctions.
Investigations revealed that some states have made wage announcements but remain non-compliant. For instance, Cross River announced N70,000 but has yet to initiate implementation or negotiations, while Enugu declared N80,000 but lacks agreements on consequential adjustments. Nasarawa, Ekiti, and Ebonyi have made similar announcements without actualizing payments.
ALIGNING with the planned industrial action, the NLC chapter in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) directed workers across the six area councils to commence an indefinite strike.
The council chairman, Knabanyi Idalo, issued the directive in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.
Idalo explained that the decision followed the November 8 communique from the NLC’s NEC meeting in Port Harcourt, urging council chairpersons nationwide to implement the N70,000 national minimum wage.
According to Idalo, the chairpersons of the FCT area councils failed to comply with the directive, prompting organised labour to act.
He noted that the union’s State Administrative Council, at a meeting on November 12, unanimously resolved to embark on an indefinite strike if the minimum wage was not implemented by the end of November.
“The directive remains binding unless the government ensures full implementation of the national minimum wage across all area councils,” Idalo stated.
Also, the Ebonyi State chapter directed workers to embark on a one-week warning strike over Governor Francis Nwifuru’s alleged improper implementation of the minimum wage.
Addressing journalists in Abakaliki, the NLC Chairman in the state, Prof Egwu Ogugua, said the strike, which began at midnight on December 1, 2024, was in protest against the N40,000 increment approved for workers on grade level three and above. He described the implementation as selective and unfair.
Ogugua explained that the warning strike aligned with the November 8 directive.
It will be recalled that Nwifuru had earlier announced a N75,000 minimum wage for workers in the state. However, the labour union rejected the implementation, stating it did not follow due process.
“The Minimum Wage Implementation Committee was still fine-tuning its recommendations when the governor unilaterally announced a wage award of N75,000 for grade levels 1 and 2, and N40,000 for grade levels 3 to 16,” Ogugua said, referring to the governor’s pronouncement during a church service on October 27, 2024.
He criticised the decision, stating that proper procedures, including consequential adjustments and agreements signed by both parties, were not followed.
“The salary chart forced on workers lacked minimal progression and failed to undergo consequential adjustments, leaving workers with inadequate take-home pay,” he added.
The NLC chairman disclosed that the Implementation Committee had proposed an acceptable salary chart with consequential adjustments and substantial progression. He noted that the cost implications had been discussed with the governor, but efforts to reach a consensus were ignored.
Ogugua accused the governor of dismissing their appeals to reconsider his stance. “Our last interaction with you on November 27, 2024, where we passionately appealed that you rescind your decision, ended with a resounding ‘No’ from you, crushing the hopes of Ebonyi workers,” he lamented.