New Minimum Wage: NLC Issues Dec 1 Ultimatum To States For Payment

11 November

Reported by Ayooluwa Afolabi

The Nigeria Labour Congress has given state governments until December 1, 2024, to implement the new minimum wage.

It also accused fuel marketers of inflating petrol prices, claiming the pump price is significantly higher than the actual market value.

The NLC contended that Nigerians were being exploited, with citizens enduring heightened suffering and hunger due to government policies that keep pushing many into destitution.

In a communique released on Sunday, following its National Executive Council meeting, the NLC highlighted the severe economic hardship across the country and called for an urgent review of policies it described as “anti-people.”

The NLC further directed state councils where the new minimum wage is not yet implemented to commence an indefinite strike starting December 1, 2024, in protest against the unaddressed labour issues.

In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved increasing the minimum wage for Nigerian workers from N30,000 to N70,000.

However, the implementation across states has been gradual, with some still not adopting the new minimum wage.

While a number of states have pledged to meet the N70,000 minimum wage, others have gone further, committing to pay amounts higher than the federal mandate.

According to the PUNCH, as of the first week of November, more than 20 states have announced the implementation of the new minimum wage.

“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.

“Furthermore, the NLC shall initiate a series of industrial actions in all non-compliant states and shall not relent until the minimum wage is fully implemented across Nigeria.

“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 communique read.

The NLC’s call underscored its growing concerns over the economic strain on Nigerians and its commitment to holding fuel marketers and the government accountable for citizens’ welfare.

“The NEC-in-session noted with increasing dismay the shenanigans around the appropriate pricing of petrol in Nigeria.

“It observed that there may be a gang-up against Nigerians by fat cats in the industry as the current price of the product is significantly higher than the real market price.

“Padding of costs and abnormal margins seems to be the order of the day considering the revelations from the ongoing controversy between Marketers and Dangote Group.

“It is entirely possible that Nigerian workers and masses are being ripped off by those who control the levers of economic power in Nigeria, which explains why the domestic public refineries may not immediately be allowed to come on stream.

“NLC demands appropriate pricing of petrol and calls for the public domestic refineries in PH, Warri, and Kaduna to quickly come back on stream,” it added.