Despite concerted efforts by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, and the governors of five other states, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is proceeding with its planned nationwide strike due to the non-implementation of the new national minimum wage. Starting on Monday, December 2, 2024, workers in 14 states and the FCT are set to begin industrial action, as the NLC claims state governments have failed to fully comply with the wage law.
State Governments Struggle to Meet NLC Demands
Governor Wike, along with the governors from five other states, had engaged in several rounds of discussions with union leaders, hoping to avert the strike by addressing concerns over the delayed implementation of the new minimum wage. However, despite their best efforts to resolve the issue, critical concerns regarding the full implementation of the wage, particularly the unresolved issue of consequential adjustments, remained unaddressed, prompting the NLC to push ahead with its strike order.
In Nasarawa State, workers have been put on alert for a strike unless the state government formally commits to paying the agreed N70,500 minimum wage, as no official agreement has been signed to make this arrangement binding. Ismaila Okoh, the NLC Chairman in Nasarawa, emphasized that workers have been instructed to comply with the strike directive unless the issue is resolved before midnight, warning that failure to act would compel workers to follow through with the national strike order.
Kaduna State, which has already begun implementing the national minimum wage by increasing workers’ salaries to N72,000, has also found itself caught in the dispute, as the state’s NLC chapter continues to press for additional adjustments, even after the wage hike. Ayuba Suleiman, the Chairman of the NLC in Kaduna, confirmed that workers in the state would still proceed with the strike, demanding further adjustments in their salaries beyond the minimum wage, thus keeping the tension high in the state.
Financial Strain Puts Pressure on State Governments
The Kaduna State government, however, issued a statement from Ibraheem Musa, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Uba Sani, insisting that the state had fully complied with the National Minimum Wage Law by paying the lowest-paid workers N72,000. Musa clarified that while the state had met the minimum wage requirement, the issue of further adjustments was a separate concern, and the state’s financial constraints made it difficult to meet the additional demands. He explained that the state’s wage bill had increased significantly, leaving little room for further salary hikes.
In Ebonyi State, workers have been directed by their NLC leadership to join the strike, as Governor Francis Nwifuru has failed to implement the new wage despite an earlier promise. Dr. Oguguo Egwu, the NLC Chairman in Ebonyi, criticized the state’s failure to engage in proper negotiations or provide a clear implementation plan, which has led to widespread frustration among workers who are now determined to follow the national strike directive.
Zamfara State has also confirmed that workers will participate in the strike, as they have yet to receive the new minimum wage. Ahmed Abubakar, the NLC Secretary in Zamfara, stated that the failure of the state government to implement the new wage has left workers with no option but to comply with the NLC’s strike order.
Strike Set to Cause Nationwide Disruption
Despite Wike’s efforts and those of other state governors to find a compromise, the NLC remains firm in its position, and the strike will go ahead as scheduled. Workers across the affected states are preparing to down tools, with the dispute over the national minimum wage continuing to create significant unrest. As the deadline for compliance approaches, both the NLC and state governments are at an impasse, with the potential for major disruptions across the country.
