The Federal Government and organised labour are resuming negotiations on Tuesday over petrol prices, workers’ wages and other welfare concerns, with the outcome expected to determine whether the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress will embark on nationwide industrial action.
The NLC and TUC are demanding a reduction in petrol prices to 2024 levels, tax relief for workers, immediate wage awards and the commencement of negotiations for a new minimum wage. The unions extended their ultimatum to October 27 after an earlier meeting on October 22 ended without an agreement.
NLC Assistant Secretary-General Chris Onyeka said on Monday that the government had invited labour representatives to another meeting. He stressed that the unions expected concrete responses to their demands rather than another discussion without commitments. The Federal Ministry of Labour also confirmed that the meeting was scheduled to hold.
The disagreement partly centres on when negotiations for a new minimum wage should begin. The Federal Government maintains that the current N70,000 minimum wage, signed into law in July 2024, is due for review on June 1, 2027, under the three-year review cycle. The NLC, however, wants preparations to begin immediately to allow sufficient time for negotiations.
Labour also argues that rising petrol prices, transportation costs and the prices of essential goods have eroded the benefits of the 133 per cent increase from the previous N30,000 minimum wage. Other outstanding demands include the implementation of agreed tax relief measures, wage awards, hazard allowances and settlements affecting health-sector workers.
Meanwhile, the Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria has urged the government to pay eligible retirees three months of outstanding fuel-subsidy removal palliatives, amounting to N75,000. The association also called for clearer information on pension harmonisation, uninterrupted pension payments and measures to prevent elderly, sick and physically incapacitated pensioners from being excluded from benefits.
The association further urged the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate and the National Health Insurance Authority to simplify enrolment in the Pensioner Health Insurance Scheme and provide assistance to retirees facing registration difficulties. As the labour talks resume, the unions are expected to assess the government’s response before deciding their next course of action.
