BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to take urgent steps to reduce petrol prices, begin renegotiating the national minimum wage and address other pressing welfare concerns affecting Nigerian workers.

The labour union warned that failure to meet its demands within the stipulated period could compel it to take further action.

The ultimatum was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the NLC National Executive Council (NEC) and Central Working Committee (CWC) held at Labour House, Abuja.

In the communiqué signed by its president, Joe Ajaero, the NLC said the ultimatum would commence on Friday, October 9, 2026, urging its affiliates and progressive allies to remain on high alert and prepare for what it described as “decisive efforts” against policies considered detrimental to workers and the wider population.

The Congress expressed concern over the worsening economic situation, rising inflation, the depreciation of the naira and the escalating cost of living, which it said had significantly eroded workers’ purchasing power.

“Having extensively discussed the grave economic, political and crises of survival ravaging workers and the nation at large, NEC-in-session, in conjunction with the CWC, resolves as follows,” the communiqué stated.

The NLC blamed what it described as the Federal Government’s neoliberal policies for deepening hardship among workers and the broader population, accusing the ruling elite of shifting the burden of economic mismanagement onto already impoverished Nigerians.

It maintained that sustainable national development could not be achieved under conditions of economic exploitation and insisted that workers must remain united in the struggle for a fairer and more equitable society.

Minimum wage renegotiation

The Congress said the current national minimum wage had been severely undermined by the persistent depreciation of the naira and the sharp increase in the cost of living.

According to the union, workers can no longer afford basic necessities, including food, shelter, healthcare, transportation and education, with their current earnings.

It consequently demanded that the Federal Government commence the renegotiation of the national minimum wage before the end of October 2026.

The NLC insisted that any new wage arrangement must reflect the actual cost of living and guarantee Nigerian workers a decent standard of living, warning that further delays would be unacceptable.

NLC demands reduction in petrol prices

On fuel pricing, the Congress renewed its call for the Federal Government to work with relevant agencies to immediately reduce the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.

It argued that the high cost of petrol had triggered increases in transportation fares, food prices and other essential goods and services, worsening the economic difficulties faced by workers and the general population.

The union urged the government to reverse policies that had allowed repeated increases in petroleum product prices, arguing that the situation had benefited a handful of oil marketers at the expense of millions of Nigerians.

As part of its demands, the NLC called for petrol prices to be reduced to the levels prevailing when the current national minimum wage was signed into law in 2024.

It said such a measure would help cushion the impact of the energy crisis on workers and the wider population.

Demands tax relief, wage awards

The labour union also called on the Federal Government to grant workers the tax relief it said had previously been agreed upon and immediately introduce wage awards to cushion the effects of rising living costs.

According to the NLC, these measures represent the minimum relief required to ease workers’ hardship and restore some measure of dignity to their lives.

The Congress criticised what it described as the government’s continued demand for sacrifices from workers without providing adequate relief to address their economic difficulties.

NLC issues fresh demands to FG

Beyond petrol prices and minimum wage renegotiation, the NLC gave the Federal Government two weeks to address outstanding labour-related disputes and implement existing agreements.

Specifically, the Congress demanded that the government:

Take immediate measures to reduce petrol prices nationwide to the levels prevailing when the current national minimum wage was signed into law in 2024.
Begin the process of renegotiating a new national minimum wage.
Implement the terms of settlement reached with the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals (JOHESU) on February 5, 2026, alongside other demands that have emerged since then.
Implement the demands of the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council (JPSNC).

The NLC warned that failure to comply with the demands within the 14-day window would leave it with no option but to take appropriate remedial action, as directed by its relevant organs.

Reaffirming its commitment to defending workers’ rights, the Congress called on its affiliates and progressive allies to remain organised, vigilant and prepared to resist policies it considers exploitative or detrimental to the welfare of Nigerians.

It maintained that the labour movement would continue to push for policies that promote economic justice, protect workers’ purchasing power and guarantee a fairer distribution of the country’s resources.