The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced a nationwide strike, set to begin Monday, December 2, 2024, in Oyo, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and 13 other states. This decision comes after these states failed to implement the newly agreed-upon national minimum wage, forcing workers to continue receiving outdated salary rates.

The strike follows resolutions made during the NLC’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Port Harcourt on November 8, further affirmed by the Central Working Committee (CWC) in Kano on November 27, 2024. The NLC’s primary aim is to compel state governments to adopt the new wage structure, which was agreed upon nationally but has yet to be enforced in these states.

States affected by the strike include Abia, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Oyo, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara. Workers in these areas have reportedly been stuck with old wage structures, with no clear timeline or plans for updating the pay system.

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In a statement from NLC General Secretary, Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, the Congress expressed its frustration at the delay and warned state leaders of severe consequences if the situation remains unchanged. “Failure to commence implementation by the end of November 2024 leaves us no option but to enforce industrial action as directed by NEC and CWC,” Ugboaja stated.

The NLC’s warning was clear: “Non-compliance will attract dire consequences.” The Congress further emphasized that state leadership will be held accountable for failing to act, and state chapters must keep the NLC updated on any progress or new developments.

With this strike set to impact key sectors across the affected states, the NLC is sending a strong message that it will not tolerate any further delays in implementing the agreed-upon wage increase. The ongoing labor action has heightened tensions between state governments and the unions, signaling a potential standoff that could disrupt various services.