The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has reiterated its stance on the December 1 deadline for all states to implement the new national minimum wage of ₦70,000, as mandated by President Bola Tinubu’s July 2024 legislation. Despite over 30 states already adopting the new wage structure, the NLC insists that no state should be exempted  from compliance.

States such as Zamfara, Sokoto, Cross River, and Nasarawa have yet to finalize wage agreements with their workers, prompting the NLC to reaffirm its position. Benson Upah, the union’s spokesperson, confirmed on Saturday that the directive remains unchanged. “Majority is not everybody,” Upah said emphasizing that all states must comply or face the union’s planned industrial action.

The minimum wage bill, signed into law on July 29, 2024, raised the baseline salary from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000. Following the bill’s passage, the NLC set November 30 as the final deadline for states to adopt the revised wage structure, with failure to comply resulting in indefinite strikes starting December 1.

While most states have met the directive, negotiations continue in a few, raising concerns for potential disruptions if the deadline is not met. Upah stressed, “Nothing has changed as per that directive,” reiterating the NLC’s commitment to ensuring equitable pay for all workers.

With the deadline fast approaching, non-compliant states risk widespread strikes, which could disrupt public services and bring attention to the ongoing wage disparity across the country.