The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the Federal Government’s response to its 14-day ultimatum, raising fears of another nationwide industrial strike. The union is demanding urgent economic relief for workers and the immediate commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage.
In a letter dated October 13, 2026, addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, NLC President Joe Ajaero faulted the government’s position that introducing a new minimum wage before June 2027 would be premature. The Congress argued that preparations should begin immediately to avoid delays and the accumulation of unpaid wage arrears.
The Federal Government maintains that the current N70,000 minimum wage, signed into law on July 29, 2024, is due for review on June 1, 2027, in line with the law’s three-year review cycle. It also cited initiatives such as the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas programme, food security interventions and social support schemes as efforts to ease economic hardship.
However, the NLC argued that the National Minimum Wage Act, originally signed in April 2019, set a review deadline of April 18, 2024. It maintained that the 2024 amendment did not cancel the original timeline and insisted that negotiations should begin at least six months before a new wage takes effect. The union stressed that it was not demanding an immediate wage increase but the start of the necessary negotiation process.
Beyond the wage dispute, the Congress called for lower petrol prices, the implementation of tax relief measures agreed upon in 2023, and immediate wage awards to cushion rising living costs. It also demanded the implementation of outstanding agreements with the Joint Health Sector Unions and the resolution of issues raised by the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council.
The NLC said inflation, the depreciation of the naira and rising transportation and living costs had weakened workers’ purchasing power despite the increase in the minimum wage. Although the union did not expressly declare an imminent strike, the rejection of the government’s response has heightened concerns over a possible industrial confrontation if the demands remain unresolved before the ultimatum expires.
