Minimum Wage: NLC Issues November Deadline To Governors 

NLC President l, Joe Ajaero gave the ultimatum on Sunday at the end of its National Executive Council, NEC, meeting, held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The NLC leader said the workers would no longer accept the delay in the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage.

Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in July this year signed the new Minimum wage into law with the approval of the National Assembly.

But five months after, many state governments have yet to implement the policy, even though some governors have indicated their interest to pay.

Ajaero however said the Congress is unsatisfied with the delay in paying the wage, citing for instance, that the workers are going through a lot due the economic situation in the country.

Paying the new wage will bring succour to them, the NLC President said in a communique issued by the Congress yesterday at the end of its NEC meeting.

According to him, NLC will take action against state governments that refused to pay the wage by the end of this month, including grounding activities in such states through picketing, adding that the workers consider the delay as a betrayal of trust.

Part of the communique reads, “The NEC notes with deep frustration the persistent delay and outright refusal by some state governments to implement the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act.

“This betrayal by certain governors and government officials across the country flies in the face of both legality and morality, as workers continue to be denied their rightful wages amidst rising economic hardship.

“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.

“The NEC therefore resolved to set up a National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee that will commence a nationwide assessment, mobilisation and campaign to educate 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 Nov., 2024 have been directed to proceed on strike beginning from Dec. 1,” Ajaero said.