The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed its members in states that have yet to implement the new minimum wage to begin an indefinite strike on December 1, 2024.
This decision follows resolutions made at the NLC’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held over the weekend.
In a strongly worded statement, the NEC expressed deep frustration over the ongoing delays and outright refusal by some state governments to implement the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act. “This betrayal by certain governors and officials disregards both legality and morality, as workers continue to be denied their rightful wages amidst escalating economic hardship,” the statement read. The NLC condemned these actions as a “blatant disregard for the law and the lives of millions of Nigerian workers,” who are left struggling under the very leadership that should protect them.
In response, the NEC announced the formation of a National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee. This committee will conduct a nationwide assessment and mobilize workers and the public, raising awareness about the importance of upholding workers’ rights. Additionally, the NLC committed to initiating industrial actions in all non-compliant states and vowed to continue these efforts until the minimum wage is fully implemented nationwide.
“To this end,” the statement concluded, “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 December 1, 2024. Nigerian workers demand justice, and justice they shall have.”
