Osamagbe Imadiyi
State governments have been given until December 1, 2024, by the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC) to enact the new minimum wage. Additionally, it charged fuel marketers with manipulating the price of gasoline by asserting that the pump price is much higher than the true market value. The NLC argued that Nigerians were being taken advantage of, with many people living in poverty as a result of government policies that increase their suffering and hunger.
Following its National Executive Council meeting, the NLC issued a statement on Sunday that emphasized the dire economic conditions that exist nationwide and demanded an immediate review of policies that it characterized as “anti-people.” In addition, the NLC instructed state councils that have not yet adopted the new minimum wage to launch an indefinite strike against the unresolved labor issues on December 1, 2024.
In July 2024, Nigerian workers’ minimum wage was raised from N30,000 to N70,000 by President Bola Tinubu. States have been implementing the new minimum wage gradually, though, and some have not yet done so. Although several states have committed to paying the N70,000 minimum wage, others have gone one step further and agreed to pay amounts above the federal requirement.
More than 20 states have declared their intention to implement the new minimum wage as of the first week of November.
“The NEC, therefore, resolves to set up a National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee that will, among others, commence a nationwide assessment, mobilisation and sensitisation campaign, educating workers and citizens on the need to resist this assault on their dignity and rights.
“In addition, the NLC will launch a number of industrial actions in all states that do not comply with the minimum wage and will not give up until it is fully enforced throughout 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.