The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has threatened a nationwide protest over the worsening cost-of-living crisis, escalating insecurity, and coordinated attacks on workers’ rights.
It warned that Nigerian workers would no longer sit idly by while the country’s economy and democracy collapsed.
Following its Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting over the weekend at the 12th June Cultural Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the NLC claimed that the hardships endured by workers and the poor have reached unbearable proportions, and prompt action is required to prevent a national breakdown.
The NLC has also vigorously opposed any legislative action by the National Assembly to move labour issues, including the national minimum wage, from the exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list of the Nigerian Constitution.
If enacted, the amendment would allow individual states to set their own minimum wages and other labour-related legislation.
NLC President Joe Ajaero reiterated the congress’ view on the topic on Friday while addressing members of the Central Working Committee at a National Administrative Council meeting in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Ajaero described the move as “an exercise in futility”, arguing that the national minimum wage is a widely accepted level supported by International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards that treat countries, not sub-national entities, as the unit of accountability on labour matters.
He further claimed that the planned constitutional amendment is part of a larger push by legislators to “bastardise” Nigeria’s national labour system.
This, he claimed, includes delegating labour responsibilities to individual governments and permitting the establishment of state-level industrial courts to resolve wage disputes, which he said would contradict ILO standards.
“The National Assembly should not go into this exercise in futility unless members will also allow their respective states to determine their wages.
“If they attempt to smuggle labour matters into the concurrent list, we will mobilise workers to protest against it, even up to election day,” the labour leader said.
Speaking to the press after the meeting, Ajaero emphasised the NLC’s commitment to opposing any move to weaken national labour standards. He asked lawmakers to follow worldwide best practices and protect Nigerian workers’ rights.
“All over the world, there is a minimum wage for the protection of workers. In Nigeria, there is legislation for a minimum wage of N70,000. The law permits states to pay more than that, and in fact, many states currently pay above the minimum wage,” he stated.
Ajaero argued that allowing states to determine their own minimum salaries could affect workers’ wellbeing, particularly in states with weaker economies or governance issues.
He also stated that the NLC was unaware of any states now refusing to adopt the newly legislated minimum wage.
In a related subject, Ajaero discussed the stalling implementation of local government autonomy, emphasising the significance of obtaining the Supreme Court’s interpretation of its decision to ensure full compliance with constitutional provisions.
