The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has ordered its members to start strike in 14 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for failure to implement the minimal wage.

The labour Union had, on November 10, given states as much as December 1 to implement the minimal wage or face industrial motion.

The NLC had expressed deep frustration with the persistent delay and outright refusal by some state governments to implement the 2024 Nationwide Minimal Wage Act.

Labour had declared that the delays betrayed the arrogance that they had within the states, noting that “the act of betrayal by sure governors and authorities officers throughout the nation flies within the face of each legality and morality, as employees proceed to be denied their rightful wages amidst rising financial hardship.”

“It’s a blatant disregard for the regulation and the lives of hundreds of thousands of Nigerian employees, who’re being exploited by the very leaders sworn to guard them.”
The NEC subsequently resolves to arrange a Nationwide Minimal Wage Implementation Committee that can amongst others begin a nationwide evaluation, mobilization and sensitization marketing campaign, educating employees and residents on the necessity to withstand this assault on their dignity and rights.

“The NLC shall provoke a sequence of business actions in all non-compliant states and shall not relent till the minimal wage is totally applied throughout Nigeria.

“To this finish, all state Councils the place the Nationwide Minimal Wage has not been totally applied by the final day of November, 2024 have been directed to proceed on strike starting from the first day of December, 2024. Nigerian employees demand justice, and justice they shall have”

The NLC, in an announcement signed by Emmanuel Ugboaja, basic secretary, on Friday, the union mentioned states akin to Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebony’s, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Nasarawa and Kaduna are but to start the implementation of the minimal wage.

Others are: Katsina, Oyo, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory FCT.

In a letter despatched to the NLC chairpersons of the affected states on the twenty ninth of November, the union directed the state chapters to right away begin implementation of the directives to embark on strike, with impact from Monday, 2nd December, 2024.

“You’re hereby directed to as a matter of utmost seriousness, begin the implementation of the mentioned NEC and CWC directives instantly, efficient Monday, 2nd December, 2024.”

The NLC management warned that “failure to stick to this directives will appeal to dire penalties, as full weight of the Congress might be delivered to bear in your management.”