- Area Councils Demand Payment of N70,000 Minimum Wage and Arrears
- Labour Unions Vow Sustained Action Against Non-Compliant States
The strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has commenced in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with all six Area Councils shutting down operations to demand the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage approved by President Bola Tinubu in July.
Speaking to newsmen Abdullahi Kabi, President of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), FCT chapter, stated that all councils would remain closed until the wage is fully implemented.
“We don’t have any explanation for why the minimum wage implementation has not begun,” Kabi said. “The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, told us he does not control the councils’ funds and that they should find ways to address the issue.”
Kabi emphasized that workers are also demanding payment of long-overdue allowances, including a 40% Peculiar Allowance, 25% salary increases (CONHESS/CONMESS), promotion arrears, hazard allowances, monetization arrears, and six months’ worth of wage awards.
He declared, “The staff at the FCT Area Councils are demotivated and demoralized. We work in the same environment, use the same markets, and face the same economic realities as other FCTA staff who have received their entitlements. Are we slaves?”
States Join NLC Strike, Others Opt Out
While most states affected by the delay have joined the industrial action, Yobe State is a notable exception. Yobe workers opted out after Governor Mai Mala Buni signed an agreement with unions in November, with December set for the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage.
“Despite economic challenges, Governor Buni has prioritized workers’ welfare,” said Mamman Mohammed, Director General of Media and Communication for the Yobe State Government.
However, the NLC has criticized states failing to implement the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act, describing their delays as both illegal and immoral. In a statement, the NLC General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, highlighted that non-compliance undermines the dignity and rights of workers amidst rising economic hardships.
Labour’s Warning to Non-Compliant States
On November 10, the NLC issued an ultimatum to states, directing them to implement the new wage by December 1, 2024, or face nationwide strikes. By December 2, Area Councils in the FCT and states like Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Enugu, and Kaduna had joined the strike.
The NLC vowed to sustain industrial action until the minimum wage is implemented across all states. “Nigerian workers demand justice, and justice they shall have,” Ugboaja declared.
The union has also launched a National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee to mobilize workers and educate citizens on their rights. “We will not relent until all state governments comply,” the NLC leadership warned.
