The Nigeria Labour Congress has issued a December, 2024, ultimatum for the implementation of new national minimum wage for defaulting states.
The labour union also condemned fuel marketers for allegedly inflating petrol prices, arguing that the current pump price is substantially higher than what the market value should be.
In a statement following its National Executive Council meeting on Sunday, the NLC decried the worsening economic conditions in the country, stating that Nigerians are facing escalating hardship due to government policies that, in their view, are driving many citizens into extreme poverty and hunger.
The union emphasized that the nation is enduring exploitation as a result of these policies.
“The NLC has observed with growing concern the intensified suffering of Nigerians across the country due to the inability of state governments to implement the new minimum wage,” the statement read.
The congress also called for an urgent overhaul of policies it labeled “anti-people,” stressing that these policies have only deepened the economic strain on ordinary Nigerians.
As part of its actions, the NLC announced plans to launch an indefinite strike in any state that fails to implement the new minimum wage by the end of November 2024.
This move comes after President Bola Tinubu approved a significant increase in the national minimum wage in July 2024, raising it from N30,000 to N70,000.
Despite this federal mandate, implementation has been slow, with several states still not complying.
However, over 20 states had announced their commitment to meeting the N70,000 minimum wage by November, with some states even going beyond the federal requirement.
To address this, the NLC has resolved to create a National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee. This committee will undertake a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about the new wage and to mobilize workers and citizens in support of its full implementation.
The NLC vowed to continue pushing for the wage increase, saying that it would take further industrial actions in states that remain non-compliant.
The union’s communique further highlighted the ongoing struggles faced by Nigerians as a result of rising fuel costs.
The NLC criticized the current petrol prices, which it claims are far above the real market value, alleging that fuel marketers are profiteering at the expense of the citizens.
The union expressed concern that there may be a coordinated effort by powerful figures in the industry to exploit the Nigerian people.
“It is entirely possible that Nigerian workers and masses are being ripped off by those who control the levers of economic power in Nigeria,” the communique noted.
It also pointed to the ongoing controversy between marketers and the Dangote group as evidence of price manipulation. The NLC suggested that the failure to revive domestic refineries may be part of the broader issue, further exacerbating the plight of Nigerians.
In its final call, the NLC demanded a fair and appropriate pricing system for petrol in the country and urged the government to prioritize the reopening of domestic refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna, which would help ease the pressure on fuel prices and contribute to economic stability.
“The NEC-in-session noted with increasing dismay the shenanigans around the appropriate pricing of petrol in Nigeria,” the NLC statement said.
The union reiterated its demand for justice, stating that Nigerian workers “demand justice, and justice they shall have.”
