• Accuses marketers of fuel price manipulation
Tayo Busayo, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a directive for its members in states that have failed to implement the new minimum wage to embark on an indefinite strike starting December 1, 2024.
This decision followed the resolutions of the NLC’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held over the weekend, where union leaders expressed frustration with what they described as a “persistent delay and outright refusal” by some state governments to enforce the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act.
The NLC statement criticized these state governments for what it sees as a violation of legal and moral standards, accusing them of denying workers their rightful earnings amid rising economic hardship.
“This betrayal by certain governors and government officials across the country flies in the face of both legality and morality," the communique read. "It is a blatant disregard for the law and the lives of millions of Nigerian workers, who are being exploited by the very leaders sworn to protect them.”
To address the widespread lack of compliance, the NLC announced the formation of a National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee. This committee will conduct a nationwide campaign aimed at educating and mobilizing workers to resist what the NLC describes as an "assault on their dignity and rights." The committee will also assess the implementation status in each state, with the intention of escalating industrial actions where the minimum wage is not fully enforced.
“All state councils where the National Minimum Wage has not been fully implemented by the last day of November 2024 are directed to proceed on strike beginning December 1, 2024,” the NLC stated. “Nigerian workers demand justice, and justice they shall have.”
In addition to the wage issue, the NLC accused petroleum marketers of inflating petrol prices, which it claims are significantly higher than actual market value. The congress asserted that some marketers are profiting unfairly at the expense of Nigerians, intensifying the hardship caused by recent economic policies.
“The NEC-in-session noted with increasing dismay the shenanigans around the appropriate pricing of petrol (PMS) in Nigeria," the NLC’s statement read. "Padding of costs and abnormal margins seem to be the order of the day. Nigerian workers and masses are being ripped off by those who control the levers of economic power in Nigeria, which may explain why domestic public refineries have yet to come on stream.”
The NLC demanded immediate regulatory intervention to ensure fair pricing and called for the speedy reactivation of Nigeria’s domestic refineries, including those in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna, to dismantle what it describes as the "monopolistic stranglehold" of major players in the oil industry.
The union also addressed the worsening economic situation, emphasizing that the rising costs of basic necessities and unchecked inflation are pushing the average Nigerian worker further into poverty. It called on the Federal Government to implement substantial social protection policies to mitigate the impact of the economic crisis.
“We call for a wage review across the nation, including a review of policies that have rather emasculated Nigerian people,” the NLC demanded, insisting that only comprehensive interventions—not token measures—can ease the growing hardship faced by Nigerian citizens.
With the deadline set for November 30, 2024, the NLC’s move signals an impending standoff between organized labor and state governments that have yet to comply with the new wage law. As the union rallies support from workers across the nation, the call for an indefinite strike is expected to further test Nigeria's strained economy and underscore the urgency of resolving longstanding labor and economic issues.
