In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu signed into law a national minimum wage of N70,000 per month, more than doubling the previous N30,000 benchmark. However, NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero said that many workers in the private sector and government parastatals are still receiving starvation wages.
"The struggle for the national minimum wage is not yet over," Ajaero said. "Millions of workers in the private sector and parastatals are still enslaved by starvation wages. Public sector workers are also not fully enjoying the benefits of the National Minimum Wage Act."
Ajaero insisted that the NLC will continue to demand full compliance across all sectors, stressing that no worker in Nigeria should earn less than what is required to live a dignified life. He accused many employers, particularly in the private sector, of deliberately sidestepping the law.
The NLC has called on the government to step in and enforce the law immediately, demanding sanctions for employers who continue to violate the minimum wage law. Ajaero warned that labour will not hesitate to mobilise workers for action if the violations persist.
"Compliance with the minimum wage is not optional; it is a legal obligation. We demand full compliance across all sectors, private and public alike," he warned.
Ajaero also condemned state governors and government agencies that are yet to fully implement the new wage structure, linking the minimum wage issue to the broader struggle for workers' rights and democratic freedoms.
The NLC says it will continue to monitor employer compliance and plans to escalate its campaign until the minimum wage is fully enforced across the country.