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The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a warning to state governors, giving them a deadline of December 1, 2024, to begin paying the new national minimum wage of N70,000.
The Labour body announced it would initiate an indefinite strike if the governors fail to meet the deadline.
“The NEC, therefore, resolves to set up a National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee that will, among others, commence a nationwide assessment, mobilisation and sensitisation campaign, educating workers and citizens on the need to resist this assault on their dignity and rights.
“Furthermore, the NLC shall initiate a series of industrial actions in all non-compliant states and shall not relent until the minimum wage is fully implemented across Nigeria.
“To this end, all state councils where the national minimum wage has not been fully implemented by the last day of November 2024 have been directed to proceed on strike beginning from the 1st day of December 2024.
“Nigerian workers demand justice, and justice they shall have,” the communique read.
In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu approved the raising of the minimum wage for Nigerian workers from N30,000 to N70,000. However, the rollout across states has been slow, with some states yet to adopt the new wage.
In a statement after a recent meeting of its National Executive Council, the NLC also accused fuel marketers of inflating petrol prices, saying they are charging much more than the real market value. According to the NLC, the high petrol prices are putting a huge burden on everyday Nigerians, who are already suffering from high living costs. This, they say, is making life even harder for the average citizen.
It noted that many Nigerians are facing serious financial hardship, with rising food prices, housing costs, and transportation expenses. The union criticized what it called “anti-people policies” from the government, which it believes are driving more Nigerians into poverty.
“The NEC-in-session noted with increasing dismay the shenanigans around the appropriate pricing of petrol in Nigeria.
“It observed that there may be a gang-up against Nigerians by fat cats in the industry as the current price of the product is significantly higher than the real market price.
“Padding of costs and abnormal margins seems to be the order of the day considering the revelations from the ongoing controversy between Marketers and Dangote group.
“It is entirely possible that Nigerian workers and masses are being ripped off by those who control the levers of economic power in Nigeria which explains why the domestic public refineries may not immediately be allowed to come on stream.
“NLC demands appropriate pricing of petrol and calls for the Public domestic refineries in PH, Warri and Kaduna to quickly come back on stream,” it added.