Katsina, Cross River, and Zamfara are racing to implement the ₦70,000 minimum wage to prevent a nationwide strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) scheduled for December 1. With Imo State’s recent approval, 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory have now complied with the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act.
While Lagos and Rivers lead with ₦85,000 wages, and Lagos plans to raise it to ₦100,000 by early 2025, other states like Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Oyo, and Niger have settled at ₦80,000. Despite this, the three remaining states face mounting pressure to meet the standard.
In Cross River, civil servants launched a two-day warning strike after failed negotiations with state officials. The NLC and Trade Union Congress remain firm on their demand, signaling a potential shutdown in the non-compliant states if no action is taken.