NLC Rejects FG Response

Author: Gist Correspondent

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the Federal Government’s response to its 14-day ultimatum, warning that unresolved demands for economic relief and fresh minimum wage negotiations could heighten industrial tension.

In a letter dated October 13, 2026, and addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, the Congress insisted that preparations for a new national minimum wage agreement should begin immediately.

The letter, signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, faulted the government’s position that negotiations for a fresh minimum wage review before June 2027 would be premature.

The Congress also demanded a reduction in petrol prices, implementation of tax relief measures agreed upon in 2023, immediate wage awards to cushion rising living costs, and the implementation of agreements with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council (JPSNC).

Although the NLC did not expressly declare a strike in the letter, its rejection of the government’s response has raised concerns about a possible industrial confrontation if the dispute remains unresolved before the ultimatum expires.

In its response to the labour centre’s demands, the Federal Government maintained that the current national minimum wage of ₦70,000, signed into law on July 29, 2024, would become due for review on June 1, 2027.

Dingyadi argued that the law provides for a review of the national minimum wage every three years, making an earlier review premature.

“Commencing a fresh review exercise barely two years into the implementation of the current wage, which represented an increase of over 133 per cent from the previous minimum wage of ₦30,000, would be premature, inconsistent with the law, and disruptive to the orderly industrial relations system envisaged by the Act,” the minister stated.

The government also cited interventions such as the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative, food security programmes and other social support measures as efforts to ease the effects of economic hardship.

It assured the NLC that the Ministry of Labour was engaging relevant ministries, departments and agencies to address demands within the Federal Government’s jurisdiction.

The minister further promised to convene the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee at the appropriate time, while urging organised labour to sustain dialogue in the interest of industrial peace.

However, the NLC described the government’s response as inadequate, arguing that it failed to address the substance of workers’ grievances.

“The Congress notes that, for the first time in recent history, the Ministry has responded with relative speed to our resolutions. We acknowledge this departure from the usual culture of bureaucratic silence,” the letter stated.

It added, “However, while we appreciate this prompt acknowledgement, we are constrained to observe that speed without substance may amount to an empty gesture.”

The labour centre also challenged the government’s interpretation of the National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, as amended in 2024, arguing that the statutory timeline for reviewing the minimum wage should be calculated from the commencement of the original legislation.

According to the NLC, the 2019 Act was signed into law on April 18, 2019, making April 18, 2024, the date it considered due for a review.

“The 2024 Amendment Act did not abrogate the 2019 Act,” the Congress stated, insisting that the amendment did not extinguish the original statutory timeline.

The NLC further explained that organised labour had agreed to reduce retrospective arrears during the 2024 minimum wage negotiations following appeals by the Federal Government to limit the financial burden on government and employers.

It maintained that the concession should not be interpreted as a waiver of the statutory timeline for wage negotiations.

The Congress argued that negotiations should begin at least six months before the implementation of a new minimum wage to avoid the accumulation of arrears.

“Under this scenario, effective negotiations should commence by 17 October 2026,” it stated.

The labour centre stressed that it was not demanding the immediate implementation of a new minimum wage but the commencement of the necessary administrative and negotiation processes, including the nomination and inauguration of the tripartite committee and the setting of a negotiation agenda.

Beyond the legal disagreement, the NLC said inflation, the depreciation of the naira and rising living costs had eroded the purchasing power of workers despite the increase in the minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000.

“The Federal Government must understand that a wage increase immediately eroded by inflation is not a meaningful improvement in workers’ purchasing power; it is merely a statistical illusion. While the nominal wage increased by 133 per cent, real wages have actually declined,” the Congress said.

It blamed rising transportation costs and the prices of essential goods and services partly on higher petrol prices, arguing that many workers could no longer adequately afford food, housing, healthcare, education and transportation.

The NLC also questioned the effectiveness of the CNG initiative, alleging that inadequate infrastructure, gas supply shortages and limited conversion kits had prevented workers from enjoying the promised relief.

“Workers cannot feed their families with an initiative that has yet to deliver the promised relief, especially when their children are hungry today,” the letter stated.

Consequently, the Congress demanded the implementation of the tax relief measures agreed upon in 2023, immediate wage awards to cushion the cost of living and a reduction in petrol prices to the level prevailing when the current minimum wage was signed into law in 2024.

It also called for the implementation of outstanding agreements with JOHESU and the resolution of demands raised by the JPSNC.

Warning against further delays, the NLC said the government must demonstrate the political will to address workers’ concerns and provide tangible relief.

“Procrastination is no longer a policy choice; it constitutes a direct threat to the survival and well-being of Nigerian workers,” the letter stated.

The Congress added that dialogue without definite timelines and immediate relief measures would amount to mere rhetoric, while reaffirming its commitment to the struggle for improved workers’ welfare.

With both sides maintaining opposing positions on the timing of minimum wage negotiations and the measures needed to ease economic hardship, attention is now focused on whether further engagement will produce a resolution before the NLC’s 14-day ultimatum expires.