The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is awaiting concrete commitments from the Federal Government on workers’ demands as negotiations resume on Tuesday, with the possibility of nationwide industrial action hanging over the talks.
Organised labour extended its ultimatum to October 27 to allow further negotiations after an earlier deadline expired on October 22 without an agreement.
The dispute covers petrol prices, the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage, tax relief, wage awards and outstanding agreements affecting public-sector workers.
The NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) expressed disappointment over the previous meeting, saying the government delegation lacked the mandate to negotiate substantively on the issues presented by labour.
In a joint statement signed by acting NLC General Secretary Benson Upah and TUC Secretary-General Nuhu Toro, the unions said the government had requested more time to prepare for a meaningful engagement.
The Federal Government subsequently sought an adjournment to enable relevant ministers and heads of departments and agencies to participate in the next meeting.
Labour is insisting that the government must address its existing demands rather than allow negotiations to continue without clear commitments.
A major point of disagreement is when talks on a new national minimum wage should begin. The NLC wants negotiations to start immediately, arguing that rising living costs have continued to erode workers’ purchasing power despite the introduction of the N70,000 monthly minimum wage in 2024.
The Federal Government, however, maintains that the current minimum wage is due for review on June 1, 2027, based on the three-year review cycle under the National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, as amended in 2024.
The NLC has rejected the argument for waiting until 2027, insisting that preparations for a new wage review should begin without delay.
The union is also demanding a reduction in petrol prices to levels prevailing when the current minimum wage was signed into law in 2024. It argues that higher fuel costs have increased transport fares and pushed up the prices of food and other essential commodities.
Other demands include the implementation of previously agreed tax relief measures, payment of wage awards to cushion economic hardship, and the settlement of outstanding allowances and agreements involving health-sector and other public-service workers.
Following the expiration of its initial ultimatum, the NLC had directed its affiliate unions and state councils to prepare for possible industrial action.
The outcome of Tuesday’s meeting could therefore determine whether organised labour continues negotiations or moves towards further action over the unresolved demands.
BusinessDay reported that efforts to obtain further details from the NLC on the expected outcome of the talks and its next steps were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
