Despite assurances from some state governments about progress on the N70,000 national minimum wage, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has initiated a nationwide industrial action to protest non-compliance with the new wage structure.

Amba Titus Audu, the Chairman of the NLC’s 2024 National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee, confirmed the strike in an interview with The Guardian.

He emphasized that the directive for the strike remained firm, urging states that have not yet implemented the new wage or reached a concrete agreement to begin industrial action immediately.

Audu challenged states claiming compliance to provide proof of payment, asserting that verbal commitments and agreements without action were inadequate.

Akeem Ambali, the NLC National Treasurer, expressed frustration with states making promises without formal agreements or financial provisions.

He warned that these states would face the full force of the strike if they failed to act.

“Empty promises and plans to begin payments in January 2025 are unacceptable,” Ambali stated, stressing that affiliate unions had been mobilized nationwide to ensure that no state would be allowed to escape accountability.

Benson Upah, the NLC’s Head of Protocol and Public Relations, reiterated that only full implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage would prevent the strike.

“Partial compliance or persuasion will not deter us. The minimum wage must be fully implemented,” Upah declared.

The strike follows a resolution from the NLC’s National Executive Council (NEC) and Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting held in Port Harcourt on November 8, 2024.

The NLC issued a directive to its state councils, urging immediate industrial action in states that had not implemented the new wage or reached an agreement to do so.

The NLC highlighted that several states, including Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Oyo, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara, had yet to adopt the minimum wage, with workers in those states still receiving the old wage rates.

The NLC has warned that failure to comply would result in severe consequences for these states.

Reports suggest that some states have made announcements or promises regarding the minimum wage but have failed to implement them.

For example, Cross River announced the N70,000 minimum wage but has not initiated payment or negotiations, while Enugu declared an N80,000 minimum wage without agreeing on the necessary adjustments.

In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the NLC chapter directed workers across the six area councils to begin an indefinite strike due to non-compliance with the N70,000 minimum wage directive.

The FCT’s council chairman, Knabanyi Idalo, emphasized that the strike was in line with the NLC’s November 8 directive and would continue until full implementation was achieved.

Meanwhile, in Ebonyi State, the NLC has begun a one-week warning strike to protest the state’s alleged improper implementation of the new wage.

The state government had announced a N75,000 minimum wage for workers, but the NLC rejected it, stating that the wage increase lacked due process, including necessary consequential adjustments.

In Nasarawa State, the NLC has mobilized workers for a strike due to the government’s failure to sign a formal agreement on the N70,500 minimum wage, despite verbal assurances.

NLC Chairman Ismaila Okoh explained that the government had not finalized the payment terms, leaving workers frustrated and determined to push for full implementation.

Labour unions in Cross River also announced plans to start an indefinite strike over the state government’s failure to implement the new minimum wage.

Gregory Ulayi, the NLC chairman in the state, reiterated that unless the government took immediate action, the unions would proceed with industrial action.

In contrast, the NLC in Oyo State clarified that it would not join the nationwide strike, stating that the Oyo State government had already addressed the minimum wage issue satisfactorily.

TUC Oyo Chairman Bosun Olabiyi expressed confidence in the state government’s commitment to the new wage.

Similarly, the NLC in Abia State confirmed that workers would not participate in the strike, as the state government had already implemented the N70,000 minimum wage since October 2024.

Abia NLC Chairman, Ogbonnaya Okoro assured that workers’ grievances regarding salary adjustments were being addressed, and there were no grounds for industrial action.

The NLC in Ondo State also announced that it would not participate in the strike, as the state government had completed arrangements to pay the new minimum wage starting with November 2024 salaries.

However, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani refuted the NLC’s claims that the state had not implemented the minimum wage.

A statement from the governor’s office confirmed that the lowest-paid civil servant in Kaduna received N72,000 in November, in line with the federal minimum wage law.

The state government urged the NLC to be patient regarding the implementation of consequential adjustments.

The Abia State Government has refuted claims made by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that it is one of the 14 states yet to implement the newly approved N70,000 minimum wage.

This comes after the NLC threatened to initiate a strike on Monday due to the non-compliance of certain states with the new minimum wage directive.

In a press briefing at the Government House in Umuahia on Sunday, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, Chief of Staff to the Governor, clarified that Abia had been implementing the new minimum wage since October.

He expressed surprise that Abia was listed among the states not complying with the new wage policy, given that it was one of the first states to roll out the payments.

“It is incorrect to say that Abia State has not started implementing the new minimum wage. Abia workers received their first salary under the new wage structure in October, and the same occurred in November,” Ajagba explained.

He reiterated Governor Alex Otti’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of Abia workers and ensuring peaceful labor relations in the state.

Ajagba acknowledged that while there had been some concerns from the Organized Labour after the wage implementation, the government was dedicated to resolving any issues.

“Governor Otti has always shown commitment to industrial harmony and the welfare of Abia workers. We were among the first states to engage with Organized Labour after the federal government concluded its discussions on the minimum wage, and we finalized our own arrangements in October,” Ajagba added.

The state leadership of the NLC, led by Comrade Ogbonnaya Okoro, and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), led by Comrade Ihechi Eneogwe, confirmed that Abia had begun paying the new minimum wage in October.

However, they raised concerns about discrepancies in the wage structure for workers at grade levels 8 to 16.

Okoro explained that while the minimum wage was implemented in October, the benefits were not equally distributed among all workers.

“While workers from grade levels 1 to 7 benefited, those in grades 8 to 16 were not adequately addressed. We noticed that workers at level 7 were paid more than those at level 10, which is an anomaly.”

In response, Okoro stated that the Organized Labour had formally written to the state government, urging a review of the salaries for workers at levels 8 to 16 to ensure fairer distribution.

The press conference was attended by several key government officials, including the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Uwaoma Ukandu; the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Comrade Sunny Onwuma; Head of Service, Dr. Ngozi Obioma; and Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma.

The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered a full investigation into allegations of salary deductions and delays in the payment of promotion arrears affecting personnel of agencies under the Ministry of Interior, managed through the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

A statement issued on Sunday by Ahmed Ja’afaru, Secretary to the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), urged the affected personnel to remain patient while the government looks into the matter.

The statement addressed online complaints from officers within paramilitary services, including the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), and Federal Fire Service (FFS).

These complaints involved alleged salary deductions by IPPIS, as well as delays in the payment of promotion arrears.

In response, Hon. Tunji-Ojo has directed the Board to conduct a thorough investigation into these claims.

The Minister has assured the officers that the issue will be resolved quickly and positively.

Reports indicate that some personnel have begun organizing protests over the alleged salary discrepancies, citing underpayments and overdue promotion arrears.

They expressed frustration, claiming they were financially disadvantaged despite government-approved entitlements, with some even accusing IPPIS of victimizing them amid tough economic conditions.

The spokesman for the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, responded to these claims by stating that the promotion arrears were being paid in installments, based on available funding.

He emphasized that this situation was not unique to the paramilitary agencies but applied to other sectors as well.

President Bola Tinubu has stated that Nigerians were living a “fake good life” before his administration took the bold step of removing the fuel subsidy, a decision he says was necessary to prevent the country from sliding into total economic collapse.

Tinubu made these remarks during the combined 34th and 35th convocation ceremonies at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) in Ondo State.

Represented by Professor Wahab Egbewole, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, the President reflected on the state of the nation’s economy before his government took office.

On May 29, 2023, upon his inauguration, President Tinubu announced the removal of the fuel subsidy, a move that he explained was vital for the country’s long-term survival.

He emphasized that the nation’s economic situation had become unsustainable due to heavy debts accumulated from fuel and dollar subsidies.

While these subsidies were initially intended to support the poor, Tinubu said that they were ultimately harming the very people they were meant to assist.

“The subsidies were meant to support the poor and improve their standard of living. However, the reality was that the poor and middle-class Nigerians were the ones suffering from what was supposed to be their relief. The good life we thought we were enjoying was, in fact, a deceptive one that would have led to national collapse without immediate intervention,” he said.

Tinubu acknowledged the hardships caused by the subsidy removal but expressed confidence that the policy was already yielding positive results, with the country’s economy showing signs of improvement.

He highlighted that while Nigeria’s macroeconomy was surpassing expectations, the country’s microeconomic framework was stabilizing as it shifted from a consumption-driven to a production-focused economy.

The President also addressed the issue of youth emigration, lamenting the mass exodus of young Nigerians seeking better opportunities abroad, a trend he said was contributing to the ongoing brain drain.

He urged the youth to stay and contribute to the nation’s recovery, stressing that the solutions to Nigeria’s problems lay within the country and that it was up to Nigerians to use their collective wisdom to bring about change.

“I understand the temptation to seek greener pastures abroad, but our intellectuals and skilled professionals are urgently needed here at home, especially now. The exodus of our best minds is a crisis that we must confront together,” he said.

Tinubu concluded his speech with a message of hope, assuring Nigerians that brighter days were ahead and reaffirming his commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“After the storm, comes the sunshine. The path to a greater Nigeria is clear, and we will not deviate from it,” he stated.

During the convocation, Vice Chancellor of FUTA, Professor Adenike Oladiji, announced that a total of 6,405 students graduated across nine faculties, with 519 earning First Class honors.

She praised the university for its commitment to high-quality education and its role in societal development, noting the institution’s continued success in various fields.