Minimum wage: Labour ground activities in four states

At least three states in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory, experienced epileptic economic activities on Monday as members of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress declared industrial action in protest against the non-implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage.

Nigerian workers stalled economic activities in Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Ebonyi states and the FCT as they commenced a one-week warning strike.

The strike comes as some states have refused to implement the new minimum wage in October and November, 2024.

Teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, are irked over non-compliance with the new minimum wage of N70,000 by the area councils in the nation’s capital.

In Kaduna, Nigerian workers paralysed activities in ministries and agencies in the state.

In reaction, the Kaduna State government claimed it had commenced the payment of minimum wage in October, except the consequential adjustment.

Similarly, in Ebonyi and Nasarawa states, members of organised labour also crippled activities.

However, in Ebonyi, the governor, Francis Nwifuru, gave the striking workers a 72-hour ultimatum to resume work or face dismissal.

Nwifuru said the government had approved N75,000 minimum wage and had started implementation.

However, workers in Ebonyi earlier described the N75,000 minimum wage announcement by the governor, Nwifuru, as a mere pronouncement not backed by action, hence the warning strike.

Speaking to DAILY POST on the strike, the spokesperson of NLC, Benson Upah, described day one of the strike as successful from state to state.

Upah described the threat issued by Governor Nwifuru as irresponsible.

According to him, Nwifuru is alone in what he described as a ‘self-righteous journey.’

“Compliance level has been impressive, from state to state.

“Governor Francis Nwifuru’s reaction is utterly irresponsible. And he is quite alone in this self-righteous journey.

“Quite a number of defaulting governors have taken measures to forestall escalation,” he said.

Recall that in July 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assented to the National Minimum Wage Bill.

The federal government and a handful of states have since commenced the implementation of the minimum wage, while others are foot dragging.