Minimum Wage: Strike Begins in FCT and 5 States as Panel Meets

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and five states Cross River, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Kaduna, and Zamfara initiate a strike.

This action comes in response to the failure of state authorities to implement the newly proposed N70,000 minimum wage, despite ongoing negotiations and interventions.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), representing the workers, has expressed frustration over the lack of progress. According to Stephen Knabayi, Chairman of the FCT Council of the NLC, "The directive for an indefinite strike was issued after the area council chairmen failed to respond to our demands, even after receiving the communique from the National Executive Council." In Kaduna, the situation is particularly contentious.

The state government claims compliance with the new wage law, stating that "the lowest paid civil servant received N72,000 last month," according to Ibraheem Musa, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Uba Sani.

However, the NLC remains skeptical, with Ayuba Suleiman, the state's NLC chairman, confirming their readiness to strike, citing unresolved issues regarding consequential adjustments.

Similarly, in Ebonyi, Dr. Oguguo Egwu, the NLC Chairman, noted the governor's initial announcement of the new wage but criticized the lack of follow-through, saying, "There was no communication or due process of collective bargaining."