FG, labour resume talks on wage, fuel price crisis
The Federal Government and organised labour are expected to resume negotiations on Tuesday over petrol prices, wage demands and other unresolved workers’ welfare issues, as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) consider possible nationwide industrial action.
The meeting follows an earlier round of talks on October 22 that ended without an agreement. Labour is demanding concrete proposals from the government before deciding its next course of action, following an extension of its ultimatum to October 27.
NLC Assistant Secretary-General, Chris Onyeka, said the union expected the government to respond to demands already submitted rather than reopen discussions without concrete proposals. “We expect them to come with answers to our demands, so that the meeting will not be prolonged,” he said.
The unions said the previous meeting ended without meaningful progress because the government delegation lacked the authority to negotiate substantively. The government subsequently requested more time to assemble relevant ministers and heads of departments and agencies for the next session.
Labour’s demands include reducing petrol prices to 2024 levels, granting tax relief to workers, paying immediate wage awards and beginning negotiations for a new national minimum wage before the government’s proposed June 2027 review. The NLC argues that rising living costs have eroded the purchasing power of workers despite the increase in the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000 in 2024.
The Federal Government maintains that the current minimum wage is due for review on June 1, 2027, under the three-year review cycle provided by the National Minimum Wage Act, as amended in 2024. The NLC, however, wants preparations to begin immediately, including the constitution of a tripartite committee involving the government, labour and employers.
Other unresolved issues include the implementation of agreements affecting health-sector workers and demands for peculiar, hazard and other allowances. The NLC has directed its affiliates and state councils to prepare for possible nationwide action if Tuesday’s meeting fails to produce meaningful progress.
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 palliatives, amounting to N75,000. The association also called for improved pension harmonisation, uninterrupted pension payments and easier access to healthcare benefits, particularly for elderly, sick and physically incapacitated pensioners.
