Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has extended its ultimatum to the Federal Government until October 27 to address demands for a reduction in petrol prices and the renegotiation of the national minimum wage, warning of possible nationwide action if the issues remain unresolved.
Gatekeepers News reports that the extension followed a meeting between government representatives and organised labour leaders at the Federal Ministry of Labour headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, which ended without an agreement.
Benson Upah, acting general secretary of the NLC, said the government delegation arrived without the necessary mandate to engage meaningfully on the outstanding issues.
“Regrettably, the government delegation came unprepared and without the necessary mandates to engage substantively on these issues,” he said.
Upah added that no concrete commitments were secured, leaving the workers’ demands unresolved.
He said the meeting was adjourned until October 27 at the request of the Minister of Labour to allow the government to assemble relevant ministers and heads of departments and agencies for further discussions.
NLC had issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government on October 8, demanding action on workers’ welfare concerns. The deadline expired on Thursday, October 22.
Among its demands, the labour union is seeking a reduction in petrol prices to the levels prevailing when the current national minimum wage was signed into law in 2024.
It is also demanding the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage, arguing that rising living costs and the depreciation of the naira have significantly reduced workers’ purchasing power.
Other demands include the implementation of agreed tax relief measures, the terms of settlement reached with Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals (JOHESU), and outstanding issues raised by Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council (JPSNC).
The outstanding public-sector issues include peculiar allowances, wage awards and hazard allowances.
TNLC urged its affiliates, state councils and civil society allies to remain alert and begin mobilising for possible nationwide action if the government fails to address the demands.
However, Upah said the congress remained committed to dialogue but would not accept indefinite delays in resolving the issues.
He added that NLC’s relevant organs would determine the next course of action if the October 27 meeting failed to produce meaningful progress.
The labour union urged Nigerian workers and members of the public to remain calm, expressing hope that the government would address the demands at the next meeting.
