The Nigeria Labour Congress has given governors a December 1 ultimatum to implement the new minimum wage.

The NLC stated this on Sunday in a communique signed by its president, Joe Ajaero, at the end of its National Executive Council meeting held in Port Harcourt, Rivers.

“The NEC notes with deep frustration the persistent delay and outright refusal by some state governments to implement the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act.

“This betrayal by certain governors and government officials across the country flies in the face of both legality and morality, as workers continue to be denied their rightful wages amidst rising economic hardship,” said the NLC statement.

It added, “It is a blatant disregard for the law and the lives of millions of Nigerian workers, who are being exploited by the very leaders sworn to protect them.

“The NEC, therefore, resolved to set up a National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee that will commence a nationwide assessment, mobilisation and campaign to educate citizens on the need to resist this assault on their dignity and rights.”

The statement also mentioned that “NLC shall initiate a series of industrial actions in all non-compliant states and shall not relent until the minimum wage is fully implemented” across Nigeria.

“To this end, all state councils where the National Minimum Wage has not been fully implemented by the last day of November 2024 have been directed to proceed on strike beginning from December 1,” said NLC.

He called on governors to embark on a wage review and immediately implement concrete interventions that would relieve the sufferings of Nigerians.

“Inflation continues to rise unchecked, with the costs of basic necessities spiralling beyond the reach of the average worker. Millions of Nigerians are being driven into destitution, forced to choose daily between feeding their families and seeking healthcare.

“Access to energy has become a mirage while workers become increasingly poorer even as they work longer hours to meet their other basic needs. As a result, nutritional diseases like Kwashiorkor and Marasmus have resurfaced in Nigeria,” the union explained.

While calling for immediate, concrete interventions from the federal government, NLC demanded the implementation of comprehensive social protection policies to shield Nigerians from poverty and ensure a living wage.

“NLC demands appropriate pricing of petrol and calls for the public domestic refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna to quickly come back on stream to break up the monopolistic stranglehold the big players have on the industry.

“The NLC stands in solidarity with the workers and people of Rivers State. We demand an immediate resolution that allows the state to continue to have unfettered access to its rightful revenue allocations,” said the NLC statement.

(NAN)