The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is facing a significant setback in its planned strike action scheduled for December 1, 2024, as multiple state chapters of the union have distanced themselves from the industrial action.
This follows the announcement that several states, having already reached agreements on the implementation of the new minimum wage, will not participate in the strike.
In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved a new minimum wage of N70,000 for Nigerian workers, with a promise to review it every three years. While many states have agreed to adopt the new wage, offering higher rates in some cases such as Lagos and Rivers, which are paying N85,000, 13 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have yet to implement the new wage. Among the affected states are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Imo, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Katsina.
The withdrawal of support from several state NLC chapters has cast doubt on the success of the proposed strike. Imo, Sokoto, Oyo, Katsina, and Akwa Ibom are among the states that have either reached agreements with their respective state governments or have been assured of the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage.
In Imo State, the NLC Chairman, Uche Chigaemezu, confirmed that the state government, led by Governor Hope Uzodimma, had shown commitment to paying the new minimum wage. He assured that the national body of the NLC had been informed of the agreement.
Similarly, in Sokoto, Governor Ahmed Aliyu announced that the state would begin paying the N70,000 minimum wage in January 2025, prompting the state NLC to withdraw from the planned strike.
In Oyo State, both the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) announced that they would not participate in the strike, citing positive engagement with the state government. Similarly, in Katsina, the NLC confirmed its withdrawal from the national strike, following a memorandum of understanding with the state government.
Despite these withdrawals, other states remain steadfast in their commitment to the strike. The NLC in Kaduna and Nasarawa states confirmed their participation, and workers in the FCT have been directed to embark on an indefinite strike, as the FCT council of the NLC has criticized local area councils for failing to implement the new minimum wage.
Zamfara State has also confirmed its participation in the strike, with the NLC Secretary in the state, Ahmed Abubakar, stating that workers were left with no choice but to strike due to the non-payment of the new wage.
The NLC national leadership has dismissed the excuses from states opting out of the strike, insisting that full implementation of the new minimum wage is non-negotiable. Akeem Ambali, the NLC National Treasurer, emphasized that states that made verbal commitments without formal implementation would face the full force of the industrial action.
Ambali stated, “Even states that have only made pronouncements without signing agreements or paying the new minimum wage will be part of the strike. Labour law does not recognize verbal promises without cash backing.”
Some states, including Jigawa, Zamfara, and Cross River, are still in the process of negotiating the minimum wage with labor unions. Jigawa’s Governor, Umar Namadi, announced that the new wage would be implemented by December, while Zamfara and Cross River are still finalizing agreements. In these states, the NLC has yet to announce their participation status, though labor leaders are optimistic that agreements will soon be reached.
As the December 1st deadline approaches, the NLC’s strike action is facing internal division, with some states pulling out due to agreements with state governments. However, the NLC remains determined to hold states accountable for their failure to implement the new minimum wage, warning that the strike will proceed as planned unless full compliance is met.
