NLC Affirms Continuation of N35,000 Wage Award Until New Minimum Wage Determined

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Mr Joe Ajaero, has declared that the N35,000 wage award agreement with the Federal Government will persist until a new minimum wage is established.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, Ajaero emphasized that the six-month provisional wage increment, approved by President Bola Tinubu on October 1, was intended to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal for Treasury-paid workers.

Despite the agreement, only two months of the wage award, initiated in September 2023, have been disbursed by the federal government.

Ajaero clarified that the payment was anticipated to run for the agreed six months before the implementation of the national minimum wage.

Highlighting pending issues with the government, Ajaero mentioned the Port Harcourt refineries, CNG buses, and other wage awards that await implementation. He conveyed dissatisfaction, stating, “It is not just the wage award; the entire agreement we had with them, they have not conceded to it.”

Ajaero assured workers that these matters are under comprehensive review, and compliance is being assessed. He mentioned ongoing efforts to collaborate with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and urged the federal government to honour agreements made, emphasizing the need to start the year with clarity on these crucial issues.

“I have asked the federal government to go through all the agreements they have entered into with us because that is where we are starting the year,” said Ajaero. “So far, it has not been rosy; there seems to be nobody keeping up with the agreement, and at a time like this, we need to get it right at the beginning of the year, so we are working on this issue seriously.”