The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced a nationwide industrial action set to begin on Monday, December 2, 2024, in Oyo, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and 13 other states, due to the failure of these states to implement the newly agreed national minimum wage.
This decision follows resolutions passed by the National Executive Council (NEC) during their meeting in Port Harcourt on November 8, 2024, and reaffirmed by the Central Working Committee (CWC) in Kano on November 27, 2024.
The affected states include Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, FCT, Imo, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Oyo, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara.
Despite the new wage agreement, workers in these states continue to receive outdated salaries, with no clear commitments from their respective state governments to implement the updated wage structure.
In a statement signed by Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, NLC’s General Secretary, the Congress expressed deep dissatisfaction over the continued non-compliance, stressing the urgency of addressing the issue. “Failure to commence implementation by the end of November 2024 leaves us no option but to enforce industrial action as directed by NEC and CWC,” Ugboaja said, underlining that state leadership would be held accountable for the delay.
The NLC also issued a stern warning to state governments, asserting that failure to adhere to the new wage law would result in severe consequences. “Non-compliance will attract dire consequences,” the statement warned, adding that the Congress would take all necessary actions to ensure the full implementation of the wage agreement. State chapters have also been instructed to report progress on the matter to the leadership promptly.
This impending strike threatens to disrupt essential services across the affected states, heightening the ongoing tensions between state governments and labor unions.
The NLC’s firm stance serves as a powerful reminder of its commitment to securing fair wages for Nigerian workers as per the 2024 national wage agreement.
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