By Divine Sam
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) organized a one-week warning strike in protest of the non-implementation of the newly approved N70,000 minimum wage, affecting economic activities in Nasarawa, Kaduna, Ebonyi, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The strike followed delays in the wage’s implementation, with some states failing to enforce it by October and November 2024.
In the FCT, teachers were particularly affected, as area councils had not implemented the minimum wage. In Kaduna, workers disrupted activities across ministries and agencies, although the state government claimed partial payment began in October, excluding the consequential adjustment. Meanwhile, in Ebonyi, Governor Francis Nwifuru issued a 72-hour ultimatum for workers to return or face dismissal, despite his earlier announcement of a N75,000 minimum wage. Workers dismissed this as an empty promise, prompting the strike.
Benson Upah, NLC spokesperson, called the situation successful, with high compliance across states, and criticized Governor Nwifuru’s threat as irresponsible. The strike highlights the ongoing challenges with the new wage’s nationwide implementation, even after President Bola Tinubu assented to the National Minimum Wage Bill in July 2024. Some states have begun paying the new wage, but others have yet to comply.