A strong warning has been issued by the Nigeria Labour Congress to state governments and other employers regarding the implementation of the N70,000 national minimum wage and corresponding salary adjustments. Failure to comply by the end of the first quarter of 2025 may result in decisive action.
The President of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, Mohammed Ibrahim, delivered this warning during the association’s National Leadership Retreat in Abuja.
Ibrahim, who also serves as the National Internal Auditor of the NLC, emphasized that there will be serious consequences for state governments and institutions that delay or manipulate wage payments.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the insincerity of some state governments and employers, Ibrahim criticized their approach of treating the wage increase as merely an “award” without proper implementation.
“The national minimum wage is now a law, and payments should have already commenced nationwide. However, many institutions and states have only announced figures without genuine implementation,” he stated.
Ibrahim highlighted that due to the NLC’s intervention, some state governments hastily entered into agreements, which he referred to as “kangaroo agreements” that have not been fulfilled.
He reassured Nigerian workers that the NLC is committed to ensuring full compliance.
Looking ahead, Ibrahim affirmed that stringent measures are being taken to ensure that any state or employer failing to implement the national minimum wage and adjust workers’ salaries accordingly by the end of the first quarter will face consequences. He emphasized the readiness of the NLC to enforce labor laws against non-compliant employers.