- Kaduna NLC Suspends Strike, Demands Uniform Payment Template
- Akwa Ibom Workers Set December 4 Deadline for Action Over Wage Dispute
- NLC President to Ebonyi Governor: Threats Will Not Deter Legal Industrial Action
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, on Tuesday condemned Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru for threatening to sack workers who joined a strike over the state’s failure to implement the N70,000 minimum wage.
Governor Nwifuru, in a live broadcast on Monday, vowed to withhold salaries and replace striking workers within 72 hours, claiming, “I do not owe you. If you don’t report to work, I will replace you.”
In response, Ajaero called the governor’s threat “irresponsible,” emphasizing that the industrial action followed failed attempts to engage the governor in dialogue.
“The law recognizes strike action as a legitimate tool for aggrieved workers. Instead of threats, the governor should have sought dialogue to address this matter,” Ajaero said.
He directed all affiliates of the NLC to join the strike in solidarity with Ebonyi workers, urging them to sustain momentum until the minimum wage law is implemented.
Meanwhile, in Kaduna State, the NLC suspended its ongoing strike for seven days to allow the state government time to address inconsistencies in its payment template.
NLC Kaduna Chairman Ayuba Suleiman stated, “We rejected the current template due to disparities. We seek a uniform payment structure reflecting the new minimum wage.” Governor Uba Sani’s Chief Press Secretary clarified that the issue concerns “consequential adjustments, not the minimum wage itself.”
In Akwa Ibom State, civil servants resolved to begin an indefinite strike on December 4, 2024, if the government fails to sign the minimum wage agreement with a clear commencement date. Workers are also planning a protest at the Government House on December 9 to demand their rights.
The NLC’s nationwide directive has spurred action across states, with workers united in demanding compliance with the new wage law.
