The strike embarked upon by the members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Monday over the non-implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage has grounded the civil service in three states and the Federal Capital Territory. The strike comes as some states have failed to implement the new minimum wage in October and November 2024. In Kaduna, Nigerian workers paralysed activities in ministries and agencies across the state, which elicited reactions from the Kaduna State government which claimed that it had commenced the payment of minimum wage in October, except for the consequential adjustment. Similarly, in Ebonyi and Nasarawa states, members of organised labour also crippled activities. While reacting, the Ebonyi state governor, Francis Nwifuru, gave the striking workers a 72-hour ultimatum to resume work or face dismissal.
Nwifuru said the government had approved the N75,000 minimum wage and had started implementation.
However, workers in Ebonyi earlier described the N75,000 minimum wage announcement by the governor, Nwifuru, as a mere pronouncement not backed by action, hence the warning strike.
In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, teachers who were irked by the non-compliance with the new minimum wage by the area councils in the nation’s capital turned back pupils who went to school on Monday to continue with their first term examination.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the NUT in the FCT, Kubwa chapter, Comrade Ameh Baba, said the action became necessary as, according to him, the area council chairmen in the territory have continued to owe them arrears.
“And now the ultimatum of December 1st deadline given by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for any state to comply with the minimum wage of N70,000 has come to effect. Hence we don’t have any option, but to comply,” he said.
Baba said the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike had approved the recent minimum wage, with the November salary being billed for the first payment. He, however, stated that the UBEC teachers among them were yet to witness the gesture.
He warned that the primary school teachers in the FCT would go on with the present strike, adding that the councils still owed them the N40,00 peculiar allowance, and N35,000 wage award of up to one year.
