States Rush to Avoid NLC Strike Over N70k Minimum Wage

|By Adejumo Adekunle –

• 33 States Now Compliant With National Wage Act
• Lagos, Rivers Lead With N85k Minimum Pay Offers
• NLC Threatens Nationwide Strike Over Unpaid Wages

With a December 1 deadline looming, Katsina, Zamfara, and Cross River are scrambling to implement the N70,000 minimum wage to avert an impending strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC). This follows compliance by 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory after Imo State joined on Tuesday.

Some states, such as Lagos and Rivers, have pledged wages as high as N85,000, with Lagos planning to increase pay to N100,000 by 2025. Others, like Akwa Ibom, Oyo, and Enugu, offer N80,000, while Delta and Ogun have approved N77,000. States such as Kogi, Kano, and Kaduna set wages slightly above the base, while the majority adopted the minimum of N70,000.

However, Cross River workers began a two-day warning strike on November 24, frustrated by perceived delays from their government. Katsina is still negotiating terms, while Zamfara has promised to finalize its implementation plan soon.

Labour unions warn that failure to meet the deadline could trigger widespread industrial action, disrupting essential services across the remaining non-compliant states.