Labour unions in Cross River State have reaffirmed their readiness to join the nationwide strike proposed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) if the state government fails to implement the new minimum wage of ₦70,000.

Monday Ogbodum, Chairperson of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Cross River, confirmed this stance during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Saturday. The NLC has set Sunday midnight as the deadline for the industrial action to commence.

Ogbodum revealed that while ongoing negotiations with the state government continue, they will not prevent the unions from proceeding with the strike if their demands are not met. “Yes, we are still in talks with the government. We had meetings on Thursday and Friday, which ended late in the evening. Another meeting is scheduled for today (Saturday), but that does not mean the issues are resolved,” he explained.

The TUC chairperson emphasized that although the government has shown some commitment, signing an agreement does not guarantee its implementation. “Our position is that even if we sign any document or agreement today, that does not still amount to implementation,” Ogbodum stressed.

The unions remain firm in their determination to ensure the enforcement of the new wage regime, signaling that they will go ahead with the planned strike if their demands are not satisfied.