NLC issues ultimatum over N70,000 minimum wage

NLC Warns of Consequences for Non-Compliance with N70,000 Minimum Wage

YEPS
5 Min Read
Mohammed Ibrahim

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern warning to state governments and other employers, vowing to take decisive action against those who fail to implement the N70,000 national minimum wage and the corresponding salary adjustments by the end of the first quarter of 2025.

Report gathered by YEPS News indicates that the warning was delivered by the President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Mohammed Ibrahim, during the association’s National Leadership Retreat in Abuja on Wednesday.

Ibrahim, who also serves as the National Internal Auditor of the NLC, criticized state governments and institutions that have delayed or manipulated wage payments, stressing that such actions would have serious consequences.

Addressing journalists, Ibrahim accused some state governments and employers of treating the wage increase as an “award” rather than implementing it properly.

- Advertisement -

“The national minimum wage has been signed into law, and payments should have commenced nationwide. However, in most institutions and states, what they did was just to announce a figure without truly implementing it,” he stated.

IN OTHER NEWS  Emir Sanusi cautions that questioning God's will is futile

He further revealed that the NLC’s intervention had forced some state governments to hastily sign agreements—many of which he described as “kangaroo agreements that have not seen the light of day.”

YEPS News gathered that Ibrahim assured Nigerian workers that the NLC would ensure full compliance with the new wage policy.

“But going forward, I can assure you, because I am the National Internal Auditor of the NLC and at the level of leadership, we are taking very stringent measures to ensure that between now and the end of this first quarter, any state or employer of labour that refuses to implement the national minimum wage and refuses to adjust workers’ salaries accordingly will face the consequences. The labour laws are there, and we have all that it takes to enforce our rights against those employers,” he declared.

Allegations of N8 Million Bribes in Budget Approval

Reacting to allegations that members of the National Assembly were demanding N8 million from university Vice Chancellors before approving their institutions’ budgets, Ibrahim stated that SSANU and other labour unions would resist any form of corruption if the claims were true.

- Advertisement -

Report obtained by YEPS News suggests that while Ibrahim could not confirm the allegations, he noted that the absence of any denial from the National Assembly was concerning.

IN OTHER NEWS  Remi Tinubu pays a visit to Kano, holds discussions with Emir Ado-Bayero

“Before the budget defense, we didn’t hear about this allegation. Now that the budget defense is going on, we have heard the claims, and no one from the Senate or House of Representatives has come out to deny it. We just hope it is not true,” he said.

Ibrahim lamented the financial struggles of Nigerian universities, noting that many institutions cannot even afford their electricity bills, let alone pay bribes.

- Advertisement -

“If our leaders in the National Assembly are the ones demanding such payments, then our unions will take a stand. The National Assembly is not too big for us to fight. We will resist them because they are representatives of our constituencies,” he vowed.

IN OTHER NEWS  Ozekhome denies requesting EFCC to apprehend Yari and Matawalle

Challenges Facing Labour Unions

On the challenges faced by labour unions, Ibrahim admitted that strike actions have lost their effectiveness due to government indifference and worker fatigue.

YEPS News reports that he also blamed some union members for sabotaging collective efforts through blackmail and underhand dealings that derail strikes.

“Some of our own members work against us, and this happens in every sector,” he noted.

While acknowledging the limitations of industrial actions, Ibrahim emphasized that SSANU and other unions were exploring alternative strategies for negotiation.

He also stressed the importance of capacity-building and continuous training for university staff to ensure that Nigerian universities maintain high academic standards.

“SSANU is an affiliate of the NLC, and we have benefited from international training programs. It is important that we bring this knowledge home and share it with our members,” he concluded.

Share This Article
By YEPS
Follow:
YEPS is your go-to digital news platform that satisfy the interests of it's readers.
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *