NLC Insists on Strike Ultimatum as FG Seeks Wage Compromise
BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has insisted that its two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government over rising petrol prices and workers’ wages remains in force, warning that Nigerian workers are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, stated this on Monday in Abuja, urging the government to take urgent measures to ease workers’ hardship rather than wait for industrial action. He said the ₦70,000 national minimum wage, agreed upon in 2024, had been eroded by rising food prices, transportation costs and other essential expenses.
Ajaero maintained that the union’s demand was not primarily about embarking on a strike but about compelling the government to address workers’ declining purchasing power. “The point we are making is not strike. The point we are making is that whether you enter bus or you buy fuel, you will not be able to eat,” he said.
The labour leader also disputed claims that the 2024 wage negotiations had resulted in salary increases of about 133 per cent for federal workers, arguing that the addition of ₦40,000 to workers’ salaries did not adequately reflect the prevailing economic realities. He further expressed concern over unresolved industrial disputes, including issues arising from a suspended health sector strike, and rejected allegations that organised labour was being manipulated by politicians.
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, called for a balance between workers’ demands for improved remuneration and the government’s financial capacity. Represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services Office, Dr Abubakar Kana, Akume urged the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to develop a sustainable wage framework based on credible economic data, stakeholder consultations and prevailing fiscal realities.
Akume warned against avoidable industrial disputes, stressing that dialogue and cooperation were essential to maintaining industrial harmony amid ongoing economic reforms. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Junaidu Bindawa, also called for a more strategic approach to wage administration in response to inflation, changing labour expectations and the need for greater efficiency in the public service.
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