The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened a one-month nationwide shutdown in response to the National Assembly's plan to deregulate the national minimum wage. As the country awaits a new minimum wage following months of negotiations, NLC President Joe Ajaero declared the union's stance at the 67th Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association Annual General Meeting in Lagos.
Ajaero criticized a joint committee of the Senate, House of Representatives, and Judiciary for moving to remove Section 34 from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List, allowing state governors to set wages. He warned that if such legislation passes, it would result in a national strike, arguing that the decentralization of wages would lead to inequity and unfair pay differences across states.
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The NLC President emphasized that wages should be determined by national law, not sub-national entities, citing International Labour Organisation standards. He stressed that all workers deserve fair wages, regardless of their location, and condemned attempts by some governors to evade paying a proposed N60,000 minimum wage.
Supporting Ajaero's stance, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda, acknowledged the ongoing debate on whether the minimum wage should be a state or federal matter. He advised that labor issues remain on the exclusive list to ensure a uniform minimum wage nationwide, warning that decentralization could weaken labor unions and complicate international labor relations.
