The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has insisted that its two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government remains in force, warning that Nigerian workers continue to face severe economic hardship despite the implementation of the N70,000 national minimum wage.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, reiterated the union’s position on Monday in Abuja, demanding urgent measures to address rising petrol prices, declining purchasing power, and the need to begin fresh negotiations on the national minimum wage.
The ultimatum has heightened tensions between organized labour and the Federal Government, with both sides expressing contrasting positions on how to address workers’ demands amid economic reforms and mounting pressure on public finances.
Speaking at a retreat organized by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, Ajaero said the union would not withdraw its ultimatum and urged government officials to take workers’ grievances seriously before the situation escalated into industrial action.
“My ultimatum stands,” he said, adding that Nigerian workers were suffering and that government officials had an opportunity to take measures that would ease their hardship.
The NLC had issued the two-week ultimatum on October 8, demanding that the Federal Government reduce petrol prices to the level prevailing when the current minimum wage was signed into law in 2024.
The union also called for immediate negotiations on a new national minimum wage, tax relief for workers, wage awards to cushion rising living costs, and the implementation of outstanding agreements with public-sector and health-sector unions.
According to the NLC, the current minimum wage has lost much of its purchasing power because of the rising cost of food, transportation, housing, healthcare, and other essential goods.
The union warned that workers could no longer meet their basic needs on their existing earnings and called on the government to introduce immediate relief measures.
Ajaero also rejected suggestions that the labour movement was being used by politicians to advance political interests, describing such claims as an insult to workers demanding better living conditions.
He maintained that the union’s demands were driven by the economic difficulties confronting Nigerian workers rather than political considerations.
Meanwhile, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, called for a balance between workers’ legitimate demands for improved remuneration and the government’s financial capacity.
Akume, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the General Services Office, Dr. Abubakar Kana, spoke at the same retreat, stressing the importance of sustainable wage policies that reflect prevailing economic realities.
He warned that avoidable industrial disputes could undermine economic stability and urged the government and organized labour to pursue dialogue and cooperation.
According to him, wage decisions must take into account workers’ welfare, productivity, public expenditure, and the broader requirements of national development.
Akume also called on the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to strengthen its research capacity, improve data management, embrace digital transformation, and develop evidence-based recommendations for wage administration.
He said the commission must help ensure that wage policies remain responsive to changing economic conditions while maintaining industrial harmony.
Earlier, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Junaidu Bindawa, said inflationary pressures, changing labour expectations, and demands for greater public-sector efficiency had made sustainable wage administration increasingly important.
The NLC’s insistence on its ultimatum leaves the Federal Government under pressure to respond to demands for fuel-price relief and fresh wage negotiations as the deadline approaches.
Although the union has warned that failure to meet its demands could trigger further action, it has not announced a specific date for a nationwide strike.