NLC Strike: As November 30 Minimum Wage Deadline Elapses, What's the Situation in States?

The planned strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) scheduled for December 1, 2024, has raised significant concerns across the country, especially regarding the implementation of the ₦70,000 new minimum wage approved by President Bola Tinubu in July. While some states have expressed their readiness to join the strike, others have distanced themselves from the national action, citing agreements with their respective state governments.

The strike, which was called to address the non-implementation of the new minimum wage in several states, has witnessed a divided response as labor unions, particularly in states that have begun to implement or plan to implement the wage, choose to withdraw their participation.

Imo: In Imo State, there has been a clear indication that the NLC will not be participating in the strike. NLC Chairman Uche Chigaemezu addressed the situation in a statement on Saturday, explaining that there was no intention to embark on the industrial action. He emphasized that an agreement had already been reached with the Imo State Government, led by Governor Hope Uzodimma, concerning the ₦70,000 minimum wage. The governor's commitment to paying the new minimum wage had been communicated to the national NLC body, ensuring that workers in Imo would not take part in the national strike. This decision was further confirmed by a civil servant in the state, who reiterated that there were no ongoing plans for a strike due to the favorable position taken by the state government.

Sokoto: Sokoto State has also distanced itself from the strike. The state’s NLC officials have confirmed their decision to withdraw from the planned industrial action following the approval of the ₦70,000 minimum wage by Governor Ahmed Aliyu. The governor announced this approval during his presentation of the 2025 appropriation bill to the state House of Assembly. Although the implementation of the wage will not commence until January 2025, the NLC in Sokoto has accepted the governor’s assurances and signed a memorandum of understanding, opting out of the national strike. According to the state’s NLC Secretary, the union has officially withdrawn its participation, and Sokoto workers will not partake in the December 1st strike.

Oyo: Organized labor in Oyo State has similarly confirmed that it will not participate in the nationwide strike. The state’s NLC Chairman, Kayode Martins, and Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Bosun Olabiyi, have both publicly declared that there is no cause for alarm in Oyo. Martins highlighted the good relationship between the state government and the labor unions, explaining that ongoing discussions had led to the conclusion that a strike was unnecessary. Both leaders communicated with the national NLC secretariat, making it clear that labor in Oyo was well-positioned and that the wage issues had been addressed with the state government. Olabiyi further reassured the public by stating that everything was in order in Oyo, and therefore, workers in the state would not participate in the industrial action.

Katsina: In Katsina State, both the NLC and TUC have also announced their withdrawal from the planned strike. The state’s NLC Chairman, Hussaini Danduna, confirmed that an agreement had been reached with the Katsina State Government, ensuring that the ₦70,000 minimum wage would be implemented as scheduled. According to Danduna, workers in Katsina would not be part of the strike, as the state government had demonstrated its commitment to addressing the wage demands. The TUC Chairman, Mukhtar Abdu-Ruma, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that an understanding had been reached with the state government and that the new minimum wage would be implemented in December. Both labor unions in the state reassured their members that the strike would not affect Katsina, as the state was in compliance with the new wage policy.

Akwa Ibom: The TUC Chairman in Akwa Ibom State, Dominic Abang, also confirmed that public civil servants in the state would not be joining the strike. Abang explained that the TUC had made significant progress in its negotiations with the state government and that there were no unresolved issues regarding the implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage. Although the state NLC Chairman, Sunny James, could not be reached for comment, Abang’s statement indicated that the TUC had already engaged with the government at the committee level and that there was no reason for Akwa Ibom workers to join the strike. This decision further illustrated the ongoing efforts by the state to ensure workers’ welfare was prioritized.

Kaduna: In contrast to these states, Kaduna State has confirmed its participation in the nationwide strike. The state’s NLC Chairman, Ayuba Suleiman, stated unequivocally that the union was ready to proceed with the strike. Suleiman explained that despite the approval of the ₦70,000 minimum wage, the state government had not followed through with timely implementation, prompting the NLC to move forward with the planned industrial action. This declaration marked Kaduna as one of the key states where workers were determined to push for immediate and full implementation of the new minimum wage.

Nasarawa: Nasarawa State has also confirmed its participation in the strike. The NLC Chairman for Nasarawa, Ismaila Okoh, publicly declared that the state’s labor union would comply with the national directive to join the industrial action. Okoh emphasized that the strike was necessary to address the state government’s failure to implement the new wage. A notice of strike had already been issued to all NLC members in Nasarawa, further signaling the state's commitment to the labor movement's demands.

Federal Capital Territory (FCT): The FCT Council of the NLC has instructed workers in the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory to embark on an indefinite strike starting December 1. This decision follows the failure of the area council chairmen to implement the ₦70,000 minimum wage despite previous communications. In a letter signed by the Chairman of the FCT Council of the NLC, Stephen Knabayi, the union emphasized that the delay in wage implementation and non-payment of workers’ entitlements had left them no choice but to proceed with the strike. The strike will continue until further directives are issued, underlining the union’s commitment to securing the workers’ rights in the FCT.

Zamfara: In Zamfara State, workers have yet to receive the new minimum wage, prompting the state’s NLC Secretary, Ahmed Abubakar, to confirm that the union would be participating in the strike. Abubakar explained that the workers were left with no alternative but to join the industrial action, given that the state government had not yet implemented the wage. However, he also clarified that the NLC in Zamfara would continue to engage in dialogue with the state government to resolve the issue in the future.

Abia: The situation in Abia State remains uncertain. While there has been no official decision on whether the state will participate in the strike, efforts to reach the NLC Chairman, Ogbonnaya Okoro, for comment were unsuccessful. However, the state’s NLC Secretary, Emma Alozie, suggested that negotiations were still ongoing between the state government and labor unions. This delay in finalizing the position of the NLC in Abia has left many workers uncertain about the state’s stance on the upcoming strike.

Jigawa: In Jigawa State, workers will have to wait until December to receive the new minimum wage. Governor Umar Namadi has approved the ₦70,000 minimum wage, but the implementation will be delayed until the next month. Namadi has requested labor leaders’ support for his policies, acknowledging the challenges faced by civil servants but promising that the wage increase would be implemented in December.

Cross River: The Cross River State Government has yet to reach a formal agreement with labor unions on the new minimum wage, but the government has pledged to pay the ₦70,000 minimum wage as soon as negotiations are concluded. The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nsa Gill, assured that a negotiating team was actively working with labor representatives to resolve the issue.

The NLC, in response to the states opting out of the strike, has dismissed the excuses given by some state chapters. Akeem Ambali, the NLC National Treasurer, made it clear that the welfare of workers must take precedence over any state’s temporary financial constraints. The NLC has mobilized its affiliate unions to ensure that the strike will proceed in states that have failed to meet the wage demands. Ambali criticized states that had only made verbal commitments without formal agreements, warning that they would face the full force of the industrial action.

Benson Upah, the NLC’s Head of Protocol and Public Relations, reinforced the union’s stance, declaring that only the full implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage would prevent the strike. The NLC’s commitment to ensuring that workers receive their rightful wages by the deadline remains firm, and the forthcoming industrial action could have far-reaching effects on labor relations and governance in Nigeria.