The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed workers in states yet to adopt the new ₦70,000 minimum wage to commence strike action on December 1, 2024. The decision was reached at the NLC’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, where union leaders voiced frustration over certain state governments’ delays or refusals to enforce the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act.
In a statement, the NLC accused some governors of breaching trust by withholding fair wages amid rising economic challenges. “This betrayal by certain governors and government officials flies in the face of both legality and morality,” the NLC said, condemning what it described as “blatant disregard for the law and the welfare of Nigerian workers.”
As part of its response, the NLC announced the formation of a National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee, which will oversee enforcement of the new wage, conduct compliance assessments, and lead mobilization campaigns to inform workers and citizens of their rights.
The NLC instructed that “all state councils where the National Minimum Wage has not been fully implemented by the last day of November 2024 are to strike from December 1, 2024,” emphasizing the union’s commitment to securing fair pay nationwide.
