NLC Holds Firm on Strike Threat as Petrol Prices and Wage Dispute Deepen

NLC President Joe Ajaero reaffirmed the union’s position on Monday in Abuja, warning that Nigerian workers were facing severe economic hardship despite the current national minimum wage of ₦70,000.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has maintained its two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government, intensifying pressure on the administration to address rising petrol prices, workers’ declining purchasing power and demands for fresh minimum wage negotiations.

Ajaero said the government needed to take workers’ grievances seriously and introduce measures to ease the cost-of-living pressure rather than wait for organised labour to resort to strikes or protests before responding.

The labour leader’s position comes amid an increasingly tense exchange between the NLC and the Federal Government over the timing of a new minimum wage negotiation process and the relief measures required to cushion the impact of rising living costs.

The NLC issued its two-week ultimatum on October 8, demanding a reduction in petrol prices, the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage and the implementation of outstanding agreements with workers. The ultimatum began on October 9.

The Congress has argued that the existing minimum wage has lost much of its purchasing power because of rising costs of food, transportation, accommodation, healthcare and education. It is also seeking tax relief and immediate wage awards to help workers cope with the economic pressure.

Ajaero insisted that the union’s demands were driven by the welfare of workers and rejected suggestions that politicians were influencing its position. He maintained that organised labour had a responsibility to speak out when workers’ earnings could no longer adequately meet their basic needs.

The Federal Government, however, has called for a balance between workers’ demands for improved remuneration and the financial resources available to government. Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, represented by Permanent Secretary Abubakar Kana, made the position known at a retreat organised by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission in Abuja.

Akume said wage policies must reflect prevailing economic conditions while protecting workers’ welfare and supporting national development. He also warned that avoidable industrial disputes could undermine stability, stressing the importance of dialogue, cooperation and evidence-based decisions.

The disagreement over minimum wage negotiations remains a major point of contention. The Federal Government has maintained that the current ₦70,000 minimum wage is due for review in June 2027, arguing that the applicable law provides for a three-year review cycle. The NLC disputes the government’s position and insists that preparations for fresh negotiations should begin immediately.

Beyond the wage dispute, organised labour is demanding a reduction in petrol prices to the level that prevailed when the current minimum wage was signed into law in 2024. The Congress argues that the cost of fuel has contributed to higher transport fares and the rising prices of essential goods and services.

The NLC has also called for the implementation of agreements affecting the Joint Health Sector Unions and the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council, alongside measures to provide immediate financial relief to workers.

With the ultimatum still in force, attention is turning to whether the Federal Government and organised labour can reach an understanding before the deadline. Failure to resolve the dispute could heighten industrial tensions, although the NLC has not, in the statements reported, announced a specific date for a nationwide strike.

The latest exchange highlights the challenge facing both sides as they seek to reconcile workers’ demands for improved living conditions with the government’s position on wage policy and public finances. The outcome of further engagement will determine whether the dispute can be resolved through negotiations or escalates into industrial action.

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