morganable Politics/Governance
The NLC and TUC said the government delegation at the previous meeting did not have the necessary mandate to negotiate substantively on the demands presented by workers.
KaNo—
Organised labour will decide its next course of action after a crucial meeting with the Federal Government on Tuesday, as tensions persist over petrol prices, minimum wage negotiations and unresolved workers’ welfare demands.
The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress are expected to meet government representatives following an earlier negotiation that ended without an agreement, with labour demanding concrete proposals to avert possible nationwide industrial action.
The unions are seeking a reduction in petrol prices to the levels prevailing in 2024, tax relief for workers, immediate wage awards and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of the Federal Government’s proposed June 2027 review.
The NLC Assistant Secretary-General, Chris Onyeka, confirmed on Monday that the Federal Government had invited organised labour to the meeting, stressing that the unions expected specific responses to demands already presented to the government.
“We expect them to come with answers to our demands, so that the meeting will not be prolonged,” Onyeka said. “We don’t expect them to come and start asking us again, ‘What are your demands?’ The demands have already been tabled before them.”
A source within organised labour also confirmed that the government had requested additional time to prepare for the negotiations.
“The government pleaded for more time. So, we will be meeting with them tomorrow (today), and after that we will take our final decision,” the source said.
Similarly, a TUC official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said labour’s response would depend largely on the concessions and commitments secured during Tuesday’s negotiations.
“Whatever action we are going to take will rest on the outcome of tomorrow’s meeting,” the official said.
The Head of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Labour, Ann Daniel, also confirmed the scheduled negotiations.
“Yes; there will be a meeting tomorrow (today); if nothing changes,” she said.
Tuesday’s meeting follows the October 22 negotiations between the government and organised labour, which ended without an agreement.
The NLC and TUC said the government delegation at the previous meeting did not have the necessary mandate to negotiate substantively on the demands presented by workers.
In a joint statement signed by the acting NLC General Secretary, Benson Upah, and TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, the labour centres expressed disappointment that no concrete commitments emerged from the negotiations.
“Regrettably, the government delegation came unprepared and without the necessary mandates to engage substantively on these issues. No concrete commitments were secured, and the outstanding issues remain unresolved,” the unions stated.
According to the labour centres, the government subsequently sought an adjournment to enable it to assemble relevant ministers and heads of departments and agencies for another round of negotiations.
“The Honourable Minister requested adjournment of the meeting to Tuesday, 27th October 2026, to allow the government to make adequate arrangements for a productive session, including assembling all the relevant ministers and Heads of Departments and Agencies,” the statement read.
The outcome of the resumed talks could determine whether organised labour proceeds with nationwide industrial action after the expiration of its extended ultimatum.
The NLC had earlier directed its affiliates and state councils to prepare for possible nationwide action should the Federal Government fail to make significant progress in addressing the demands.
The dispute centres on several economic and labour-related issues, including the price of petrol, the timing of negotiations for a new national minimum wage, tax relief, wage awards and outstanding agreements involving health workers and other public-sector employees.
On October 8, the NLC issued a two-week ultimatum demanding, among other things, that petrol prices be reduced to the levels prevailing when the current national minimum wage was signed into law in 2024.
It also demanded that negotiations for a new minimum wage commence before the end of October and that the government resolve outstanding labour agreements.
The ultimatum expired on October 22, when the first round of talks ended without a resolution. Labour subsequently extended the deadline to October 27, warning that failure to reach an acceptable agreement could trigger nationwide action.
A key area of disagreement remains the appropriate time to commence negotiations for a replacement of the N70,000 monthly minimum wage introduced in 2024.
The Federal Government maintains that the current wage is due for review from June 1, 2027, citing the three-year review cycle under the National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, as amended in 2024.
In an October 12 letter, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Dingyadi, described the demand for another wage review barely two years into the implementation of the existing minimum wage as premature and potentially disruptive to industrial relations.
The NLC, however, insists that preparations for another wage review should begin immediately rather than waiting until the expiration of the three-year cycle.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, in an October 13 letter, argued that the timetable under the original 2019 legislation remained relevant despite the amendment carried out in 2024.
Labour is demanding the nomination of representatives and inauguration of a National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee comprising representatives of the Federal Government, organised labour and employers.
The NLC believes starting the administrative process early would provide adequate time for negotiations and prevent delays in the implementation of a new wage when the current arrangement becomes due for review.
President Bola Tinubu signed the existing minimum wage legislation into law on July 29, 2024, raising the statutory monthly minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 after prolonged negotiations involving the government, labour and the organised private sector.
While the government has pointed to the 133 per cent increase as evidence of significant improvement in workers’ earnings, labour maintains that inflation, naira depreciation and rising prices of essential commodities have substantially eroded the value of the adjustment.
Ajaero has repeatedly maintained that workers’ purchasing power has declined, leaving many households struggling with transportation, food, accommodation, healthcare and education expenses.
Petrol prices have also emerged as a central issue in the negotiations, with organised labour arguing that higher fuel costs have increased transportation and production expenses and contributed to rising prices of food and other essential goods.
The unions are additionally demanding the implementation of tax relief measures previously agreed with the government and immediate wage awards to cushion the impact of the rising cost of living.
Meanwhile, the Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria has called on the government to pay eligible retirees three months of outstanding fuel-subsidy palliatives totalling N75,000.
The association also urged the government to improve pensioners’ access to healthcare benefits as economic pressures continue to affect retirees.
