The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the Federal Government’s response to its demands for urgent economic relief and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage, raising concerns over a possible escalation of industrial tension as its 14-day ultimatum runs its course.
In a letter dated October 13, 2026, and addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, the labour centre faulted the government’s position that negotiations for a fresh minimum wage review would be premature before June 2027.
The NLC, led by its President, Joe Ajaero, insisted that preparations for a new wage agreement should begin immediately, arguing that the government’s interpretation of the law failed to address workers’ economic realities.
Beyond minimum wage negotiations, the Congress demanded a reduction in petrol prices, the implementation of tax relief measures agreed upon in 2023, immediate wage awards to cushion rising living costs, and the implementation of outstanding agreements with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council (JPSNC).
Although the NLC did not expressly declare an imminent strike in the letter, sources within the Congress told Vanguard that its rejection of the government’s response and insistence on urgent action could signal a looming industrial confrontation if the dispute remains unresolved before the ultimatum expires.
FG Insists Minimum Wage Review Is Due in June 2027
In its response to the NLC’s communiqué, the Federal Government maintained that the current national minimum wage of N70,000, signed into law on July 29, 2024, would become due for review on June 1, 2027.
According to the Minister of Labour and Employment, the law provides for a review of the national minimum wage every three years, making an earlier review premature.
The government argued that reopening negotiations barely two years after implementing the current wage, which represented an increase of more than 133 per cent from the previous N30,000 minimum wage, would be inconsistent with the law and could disrupt industrial relations.
The government also cited measures intended to cushion the impact of economic hardship, including the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative, food security interventions and other social support programmes.
It assured the Congress that the Ministry was engaging relevant ministries, departments and agencies to address other demands within the Federal Government’s jurisdiction.
The minister said the government would convene the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee at the appropriate time to begin negotiations for the next review.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to dialogue, decent work and workers’ welfare while urging organised labour to maintain cooperation in the interest of industrial peace.
NLC Challenges FG’s Interpretation of Minimum Wage Law
In its October 13 letter, the NLC acknowledged the Ministry’s relatively swift response to its communiqué but maintained that the government had failed to address the substance of workers’ grievances.
The Congress described the response as inadequate, arguing that a prompt reply without meaningful action would do little to resolve the dispute.
It also challenged the government’s interpretation of the National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, as amended in 2024, particularly the timeline for commencing negotiations on a new wage agreement.
According to the NLC, the original legislation was signed into law on April 18, 2019, meaning that a statutory review was due by April 18, 2024.
The labour centre argued that the 2024 amendment did not extinguish the original statutory timeline for wage negotiations.
It further maintained that organised labour had made concessions during negotiations for the current minimum wage after the Federal Government appealed for a reduction in the financial burden on government and employers.
The Congress insisted that the concession should not be interpreted as a forfeiture of the statutory timeline for implementing the National Minimum Wage.
The NLC argued that negotiations should begin at least six months before the proposed implementation of a new wage to prevent the accumulation of arrears.
On that basis, it maintained that effective negotiations should commence by October 17, 2026.
The Congress clarified that it was not demanding the immediate implementation of a new minimum wage. Rather, it wants the government to begin the necessary administrative and negotiation processes.
These preliminary steps include calling for nominations, inaugurating the tripartite committee and setting the agenda for negotiations.
NLC Says N70,000 Minimum Wage Has Lost Purchasing Power
Beyond the legal disagreement, the NLC argued that inflation, the depreciation of the naira and rising living costs had eroded the value of the current N70,000 minimum wage.
Although the new wage represented a nominal increase of more than 133 per cent from the previous N30,000 minimum wage, the Congress said the increase had not translated into a corresponding improvement in workers’ purchasing power.
It argued that the rising cost of essential goods and services had left many Nigerian workers struggling to afford food, shelter, healthcare, education and transportation.
The labour centre also blamed the increase in petrol prices for worsening economic hardship, noting that higher fuel costs had contributed to rising transportation expenses and the prices of other essential goods and services.
According to the Congress, the economic impact of the current wage arrangement must be assessed against the actual cost of living rather than the nominal increase in salaries.
The NLC warned that a wage increase quickly eroded by inflation could fail to deliver a meaningful improvement in workers’ welfare.
NLC Questions Effectiveness of CNG Initiative
The Congress also questioned the effectiveness of the Federal Government’s CNG initiative as a measure to reduce the impact of high petrol prices.
It alleged that inadequate infrastructure, shortages of gas supplies and limited availability of conversion kits had undermined the initiative’s intended benefits.
The NLC maintained that workers needed immediate and practical relief rather than assurances about programmes that had yet to provide sufficient support to households facing rising expenses.
It consequently called for immediate wage awards and tax relief measures to cushion the impact of the cost-of-living crisis.
The Congress also demanded that petrol prices be reduced to the levels prevailing when the current national minimum wage was signed into law in July 2024.
NLC Demands Tax Relief, Wage Awards and Implementation of Agreements
In addition to calling for the immediate commencement of minimum wage negotiations, the NLC outlined several measures it wants the Federal Government to implement to ease workers’ hardship.
The demands include the implementation of tax relief measures agreed upon in 2023 and the introduction of immediate wage awards to help workers cope with rising living costs.
The Congress also called for a reduction in petrol prices and the implementation of outstanding agreements with JOHESU.
It further demanded the resolution of issues raised by the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council.
The labour centre warned that continued delays in addressing the demands could worsen the living conditions of Nigerian workers.
It maintained that the government had the capacity to provide relief if it demonstrated the political will to act.
The NLC also cautioned that dialogue without concrete timelines and immediate relief measures would amount to mere rhetoric.
Despite its criticism of the government’s response, the Congress said urgent intervention remained necessary to prevent further deterioration in workers’ welfare.
It maintained that it remained resolute in its pursuit of a fairer and more equitable Nigeria.
NLC-FG Dispute Raises Concerns Over Possible Industrial Action
The disagreement between the NLC and the Federal Government leaves both sides holding different positions on when negotiations for a new national minimum wage should begin and what immediate measures are needed to ease economic hardship.
While the government insists that the next minimum wage review should follow the statutory timetable leading to June 2027, the NLC argues that preparations for negotiations must begin immediately.
The Congress is also demanding concrete action on petrol prices, tax relief, wage awards and outstanding agreements affecting public sector workers.
With the NLC’s 14-day ultimatum running its course, attention is expected to focus on whether further engagement between organised labour and the government will produce a resolution before the deadline expires.
Although no fresh strike was expressly declared in the letter, failure to resolve the dispute could heighten industrial tensions and increase uncertainty for workers, employers and public services across Nigeria.