The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has announced that organized labour will not go on strike tomorrow concerning the ongoing minimum wage dispute with the government. Speaking at the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Ajaero explained that the decision hinges on awaiting feedback from President Bola Tinubu, who currently has the proposed figures under consideration.
Ajaero highlighted that previous administrations have increased proposed minimum wage figures and expressed hope that President Tinubu might do the same. He criticized governors who claim they cannot pay the proposed ₦62,000 minimum wage, labeling them as lazy. He cited Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, who is already paying a ₦70,000 minimum wage, as an example to follow.
Ajaero’s comments underline the NLC’s position that state governors should first decentralize their salaries and emoluments before calling for the decentralization of the minimum wage. He emphasized the disparity between states generating significant internal revenue and those contributing little to the national purse while collecting the same amounts from the federal allocation.