A nationwide strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the delayed implementation of the new national minimum wage has disrupted government services in key states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). However, in a dramatic escalation, Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State has threatened to replace striking workers who fail to resume within 72 hours.
In a live broadcast from Government House, Abakaliki, Nwifuru expressed frustration with the industrial action, which he claimed undermined his administration’s efforts to prioritise workers’ welfare. “If you don’t go to work, not only will I not pay your salary, but I will replace you within 72 hours,” he declared. “I have directed commissioners and agency heads to record attendance. Salaries will be paid only for days worked.”
The NLC Ebonyi State Chairman, Prof. Oguguo Egwu, criticised the governor’s approach, stating that workers’ grievances over poor conditions and stagnant wages remained unresolved.
In Nasarawa State, government offices across its 13 local government areas were deserted, with major institutions, including the State Secretariat and judiciary, completely shut down. The NLC Chairman in the state, Ismaila Okoh, justified the action, citing the government’s failure to provide a written agreement to back its verbal commitment to a ₦70,500 minimum wage.
Similarly, Kaduna State workers downed tools, leaving ministries, departments, and agencies locked. NLC Chairman Ayuba Suleiman accused the state government of neglecting consequential adjustments to the minimum wage, despite paying a baseline salary of ₦72,000.
Governor Uba Sani’s administration, through his spokesperson, acknowledged the strike but argued the dispute was over wage adjustments, not the minimum wage itself.
In the Federal Capital Territory, local government employees joined the strike, leaving area council offices shuttered. The FCT NLC Chairman, Stephen Knabayi, insisted that the action would continue until the ₦70,500 minimum wage was implemented.
“The entire FCT Area Council will remain under lock and key until they implement the ₦70,000 minimum wage,” Abdullahi Kabi, President of the National Union of Local Government Employees in the FCT, added. He criticised the lack of equity in wage payments across the FCT and demanded swift action from authorities.
While the strike garnered significant traction in some states, Zamfara stood out for its non-compliance. Civil servants reported to work as usual, with some expressing scepticism about the NLC’s commitment to their interests. “We are tired of this situation,” said Sulaiman Mohammed, a worker at the Ministry of Health.
The Zamfara government, however, pledged to implement the new minimum wage following a verification exercise.
The strike underscores the growing tension between state governments and labour unions over wage reforms in an inflationary economy. While some governors have signalled a willingness to meet workers’ demands, others, like Ebonyi’s Nwifuru, have taken a hardline stance, intensifying the standoff.
As the December 1 deadline for minimum wage implementation looms, the outcome of these disputes could have far-reaching consequences for industrial relations across Nigeria.
