NLC threatens to sanction governors not paying new minimum wage, gives March deadline

The Nigeria Labour Congress says stringent measures are in place to ensure that states and employers implement the national minimum wage and the consequential adjustment before the end of March.

Mohammed Ibrahim, president of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, said this at a one-day National Leadership Retreat organised for the union’s National Administrative Committee Members on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mr Ibrahim, also NLC’s national internal auditor, said the measures were imperative due to the continuous delay by states and institutions in manipulating wage payments.

According to him, one of the issues in implementing the minimum wage is insincerity.

“I can assure you that we are taking very stringent measures to ensure that between now and the end of this first quarter, that the minimum wage and consequential adjustment will be implemented.

“Any state or employer of labour that refuses to implement the national minimum wage and the adjustment in workers’ salaries accordingly will face the consequences.

“The labour laws are there and we have all that it takes to enforce our rights against those employers,” he said.

Mr Ibrahim, while speaking on the theme of the retreat, said that some members sabotaged strike actions, weakening the effectiveness of industrial actions.

Mr Ibrahim also admitted that industrial actions had lost their effectiveness due to government indifference and worker fatigue. He noted that the union would explore alternative negotiation strategies while strikes remained a last resort.

He emphasised the need for continuous training of university staff and better funding of tertiary institutions.

The SSANU president, however, said universities must remain the centres of learning and innovation, requiring continuous capacity building for staff.