The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have issued a stern ultimatum to the federal government, demanding a new national minimum wage for workers by May 31.
This ultimatum comes despite the federal government’s recent decision to increase the salaries of civil servants by 35 percent. The government also approved a raise of between 20 percent and 28 percent for pensioners under the defined benefits scheme, retroactively effective from January 1, 2024.
However, Labour insists that the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 is inadequate and has demanded a new minimum wage of ₦615,000.
During the Workers’ Day Celebration in Abuja, Joe Ajaero, president of NLC, warned that industrial harmony in the country cannot be guaranteed if a new minimum wage is not announced before the end of May.
“The NLC and the TUC have made it clear and emphatically that should the minimum wage negotiation continue and linger till the end of May, we can no longer guarantee industrial harmony in this country,” Ajaero emphasized.
Festus Osifo, TUC president, echoed Ajaero’s sentiments, stating that the current economic realities in Nigeria make the ₦30,000 minimum wage insufficient for workers.
Osifo also called on the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and power distribution companies to immediately reverse the recent increase in electricity tariff for Band A customers.
“The NLC and TUC hereby advise NERC and power sector operators to reverse the last increase in electricity tariff within the next one week,” Osifo urged.
