The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced an indefinite strike action commencing December 1, 2024, targeting states that have yet to implement the newly legislated minimum wage. This decision, a significant outcome of the recent National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, reflects the NLC's mounting frustration with state governments that continue to withhold the newly established wages despite economic hardships faced by Nigerian workers.
In a strongly worded resolution, the NLC condemned the refusal of certain state governors and officials to abide by the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act, terming it both illegal and morally indefensible. The NLC emphasized that this reluctance to implement the law signifies a failure in leadership and a disregard for the welfare of workers, many of whom are struggling under rising costs of living. "This betrayal by certain governors and government officials across the country flies in the face of both legality and morality, as workers continue to be denied their rightful wages amidst rising economic hardship," the NLC declared.
To ensure compliance, the NEC resolved to establish a National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee. This committee will oversee a comprehensive campaign aimed at educating and mobilizing workers and citizens about their rights, further encouraging them to resist this ongoing exploitation. Through nationwide assessments and sensitization efforts, the NLC intends to push for the full implementation of the minimum wage across Nigeria, demonstrating its commitment to protecting the dignity and rights of Nigerian workers.
The NLC's directive is clear: by December 1, all state councils in non-compliant states are instructed to embark on an indefinite strike, marking a decisive stand in the ongoing wage dispute. "To this end, 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 from the 1st day of December 2024. Nigerian workers demand justice, and justice they shall have," the communique stated, underscoring the urgency of the matter.
With this announcement, the NLC has signaled its readiness to leverage industrial action as a tool for ensuring that all state governments adhere to the new wage law, prioritizing the welfare and fair compensation of Nigerian workers across the nation.
