Minimum Wage Implementation: Prepare For Battle, NLC Tells State Councils

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has alerted its state councils to prepare for serious battle to ensure full implementation of the new minimum wage.

NLC President Joe Ajaero made this known to Congress’ state councils from the South, at a two-day workshop in Lagos.

According to Ajaero, winning the fight for a new minimum wage is not enough, but to ensure it is implemented in full for the benefits of all.

Among others, Ajaero said “The wage of a single worker often sustains many more—feeding families, educating children, and supporting communities. It is not merely a pay-check; it is the lifeblood of society. When we fight for better wages, we are not asking for charity. We are fulfilling a sacred duty—to build a vibrant economy, to uplift the nation, and to secure the dignity of work. This is a divine responsibility, one that we are bound by conscience and duty to carry out.

“On the 3rd of this month, we were in Kano where we kicked off this workshop beginning with the Northern zone and now, we are here for the Southern zone. And, as we gather here today, just as I told them in Kano, know that the eyes of every worker are upon us. They depend on our courage, our resolve, and our unity to carry their voices to the negotiation tables that await us.

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“We all followed the battle that led to the new National Minimum Wage act. We saw the threats, the drama, the propaganda, and the unrelenting attempts to weaken our cause. We were called names, vilified, and faced with all manners of intimidation. But we did not bow. We stood strong. We sacrificed, not just for ourselves, but for every worker in this country.

“Yet, winning the fight for a new minimum wage is not enough. We must now ensure that it is implemented in full, so that its benefits reach every corner of Nigeria, from the largest cities to the smallest villages. If we faced such fierce opposition at the negotiation stage, then know that the road ahead will not be any easier. Be prepared for insults, threats, and attempts to blackmail you.

“But remember why we are here: the trust and hopes of our members rest in our hands. Their meals, their homes, their children’s education depend on our ability to fight for them.”