Minimum Wage: Labor-Related Activities Across Four States

Economic activities slowed down on Monday in at least three states in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) began a week-long warning strike. The protest was sparked by the non-implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage in several states.

Workers in Nasarawa, Kaduna, Ebonyi, and the FCT stalled operations in ministries, agencies, and educational institutions. Teachers in the FCT voiced frustration over non-compliance with the new wage by area councils, while similar grievances led to work stoppages in Kaduna, Nasarawa, and Ebonyi.

The Kaduna State government claimed it began paying the minimum wage in October but excluded consequential adjustments. In Ebonyi, Governor Francis Nwifuru announced a N75,000 minimum wage and issued a 72-hour ultimatum for workers to return to their posts or face dismissal. Labor unions dismissed the ultimatum, describing the announcement as unimplemented and labeling the governor’s threat as “irresponsible.”

NLC spokesperson Benson Upah praised the strike’s success, highlighting widespread compliance. Upah criticized defaulting governors and emphasized the need for meaningful implementation of the wage bill signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in July 2024. While some states have implemented the new wage, others remain non-compliant, sparking labor unrest nationwide.