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Nigeria · West Africa
Reform, implementation, public value and citizen consequence
Minimum wage non-implementation: NLC orders indefinite strike as December 1st set as a target
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), under the leadership of the President, Joe Ajaero, has served a directive to the state councils to embark on indefinite strike from 1st December, 2024, over non-implementation of the new N70,000 national minimum wage.
The order was issued by the president of the Labour group following their National Executive Meeting hosted in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The body also used the medium to call on the federal government to revisit the policies tagged as “anti-people policies,” noting that such dwindling policies have impoverished many Nigerians.
According to the communiqué: “The NEC notes with deep frustration the persistent delay and outright refusal by some state governments to implement the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act.
“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. It is a blatant disregard for the law and the lives of millions of Nigerian workers, who are being exploited by the very leaders sworn to protect them.
“The NEC, therefore, resolves to set up a National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee that will among others commence a nationwide assessment, mobilization and sensitization campaign, educating workers and citizens on the need to resist this assault on their dignity and rights.
“Furthermore, the NLC shall initiate a series of industrial actions in all non-compliant states and shall not relent until the minimum wage is fully implemented across Nigeria.
“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 December 1, 2024. Nigerian workers demand justice, and justice they shall have.”
On the hardship faced by Nigerians due to misfit and anti-human economic policies, the NLC stated that: “The NEC observes, with profound concern, the accelerating economic hardship inflicted upon Nigerian citizens. Inflation continues to rise unchecked, with the costs of necessities spiralling beyond the reach of the average worker.
“Millions of Nigerians are being driven into destitution, forced to choose daily between feeding their families and seeking healthcare. Access to energy has become a mirage while workers become increasingly poorer even as they work longer hours to meet their other basic needs. As a result, nutritional diseases like Kwashiorkor and Marasmus have resurfaced in Nigeria.
“NLC demands immediate, concrete interventions from the Federal Government, not token measures, to relieve this suffering. We call for the implementation of comprehensive social protection policies that shield Nigerians from poverty, provide affordable healthcare, and ensure a wage that reflects the true cost of living. To this end, we call for a wage review across the nation including a review of all the policies that have rather emasculated Nigerian people.”
On Rivers Allocation being withheld
On the tussle over the political supremacy of Rivers States and its revenue allocation being withheld, NLC statement reads “The NEC condemns the disturbing political situation in Rivers State, where a recent court order seeks to block the disbursement of federally allocated revenue to the state.
“This punitive move, under the guise of legal recourse, may effectively cripple the state’s capacity to meet its obligations to workers and the wider population.
“Such a development is nothing short of an attack on the rights and welfare of the people of Rivers State and a dangerous precedent that could destabilize governance in any other state.
“The NLC stands in solidarity with the workers and people of Rivers State. We demand an immediate resolution that allows the state to continue to have unfettered access to its rightful revenue allocations.
“Nigerian workers will not stand waiting while their livelihoods are threatened by political manoeuverings and vindictive actions. We are not interested in the politics of who is right or wrong but only in protecting the interests of workers and the people.
“We must learn to separate “politicking” from existential issues as politics that hurts workers and the people cannot be the best for our nation. The Congress warns that the failure of the various institutions and actors to rein in themselves may lead to our escalating our response.”
NLC, on growing threat to democracy and protection of the rights of the workers, it said: “The NEC expresses grave alarm at the increasing erosion of democratic norms and blatant disregard for the rights of Nigerian people to freely organize, associate, and express dissent. Arrests, detention and trials on questionable grounds have become the order of the day.
“We applaud the President of the federation for his recent interventions in this regard.
“However, NEC in session further calls on the President to release all remaining protesters in various jails across the nation as we had severally demanded earlier and create adequate safeguards to avert future occurrence.
“On the Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, “NEC -in- session expressed its appreciation to the Federal Government for providing CNG buses to Congress but noted that they are grossly inadequate to address the huge gap in transportation-focused on reducing costs for workers who daily commute to work. It also noted the apparent CNG infrastructure deficits around the country which may scuttle the entire CNG objectives.
“Consequently, NEC demanded the provision of more CNG buses to Congress and establish the needed infrastructure for fuelling and maintenance to provide cheaper transportation to Nigerian workers across the nation.”
Additionally, the statement said, “The Nigeria Labour Congress remains unwavering in its commitment to the wellbeing and dignity of Nigerian workers. The NEC reiterates its readiness to confront these injustices with every tool at our disposal.
“Our resolve is unshakeable, and our demand is clear: a Nigeria where workers are respected, their rights upheld, and their futures secure.”
Minimum Wage Non-Implementation: NLC Orders Indefinite Strike
