The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has set an ultimatum for the states that are yet to begin the implementation of the payment of the national minimum wage, asking its members in the states to begin an indefinite strike starting from December 1st, 2024.

NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero made this declaration yesterday in the communiqué of the congress’ national executive council meeting, which was held during the weekends and was attended by members from all over the country.

In the communiqué, the labour insisted that despite the signing of the national minimum wage by President Bola Tinubu in July, some states are yet to begin the implementation of the development, causing frustration for its members and workers in the country.

On July 29th, 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed the national minimum wage bill into law, increasing the minimum wage in Nigeria from 30,000 to 70,000. This development emerged following a series of back-and-forth between the labour union and the federal government.

While some states have started to declare how much they are willing to pay—some of them intending to go above the 70,000 threshold—other states have remained silent regarding the implementation of the minimum wage for workers.

Mr Ajearo further explained that the state’s actions depict their disregard for the law the of the country and betrayal of the workers who have been working hard but have not been paid commensurately despite the economic hardship and high cost of living in the country.

In light of this, Congress threatened to take industrial action against the concerned states if they continued to refuse to implement the national minimum wage, which would take effect on December 1st.

“The NEC notes with deep frustration the persistent delay and outright refusal by some state governments to implement the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act. This betrayal by certain governors and government officials across the country flies in the face of both legality and morality, as workers continue to be denied their rightful wages amidst rising economic hardship. It is a blatant disregard for the law and the lives of millions of Nigerian workers, who are being exploited by the very leaders sworn to protect them.

“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 labour also addressed the country’s economic hardship, noting that inflation continues to rise unabated, with the cost of necessities spiraling out of reach of the average worker.

They demanded “concrete interventions from the Federal Government, not token measures, to relieve this suffering. We call for the implementation of comprehensive social protection policies that shield Nigerians from poverty, provide affordable healthcare, and ensure a wage that reflects the true cost of living. To this end, we call for a wage review across the nation, including a review of all the policies that have rather emasculated Nigerian people.”