Osamagbe Imadiyi
Members of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress announced industrial action on Monday in protest of the non-implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage, causing epileptic economic activity in at least three Nigerian states, including the Federal Capital Territory.
Businesses in the Federal Capital Territory, Kaduna, Ebonyi, and Nasarawa states were forced to close due to a one-week warning strike by Nigerian workers, according to reports. In October and November of 2024, some states have refused to enact the new minimum wage, which has prompted the strike.
Teachers in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), are frustrated by the area councils’ failure to pay the new N70,000 minimum wage. Nigerian employees in Kaduna stopped work in state ministries and agencies. The Kaduna State government responded by asserting that, with the exception of the consequential adjustment, it had started paying the minimum wage in October.
Members of organized labor also severely hindered activities in the states of Ebonyi and Nasarawa. Francis Nwifuru, the governor of Ebonyi, however, issued a 72-hour notice to the striking employees to return to work or risk being fired.
According to Nwifuru, the minimum wage of N75,000 has been approved by the government and is currently being implemented. The warning strike was called for because Ebonyi workers had previously characterized the governor, Nwifuru,’s announcement of a N75,000 minimum wage as merely a declaration without any supporting action.