NLC Rejects 2027 Minimum Wage Talks, Demands October Negotiations

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the Federal Government’s plan to postpone negotiations for a new national minimum wage until 2027, insisting that discussions must begin in October 2026 to protect workers from further economic hardship.

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The labour union argued that preparations for a new wage agreement should start immediately, rather than wait for the expiration of the existing N70,000 minimum wage arrangement.

In a letter to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Muhammad Dingyadi, NLC President Joe Ajaero maintained that beginning negotiations now would not amount to implementing a new minimum wage before the legally prescribed review date.

The disagreement followed the minister’s October 12 response, in which the government maintained that the current minimum wage would become due for review on June 1, 2027.

President Bola Tinubu signed the existing minimum wage legislation into law in July 2024.

However, the NLC insisted that the government’s interpretation of the law should not prevent the early commencement of discussions, particularly as rising living costs continue to put pressure on Nigerian workers.

According to the union, preliminary arrangements should include inviting nominations from relevant stakeholders, inaugurating the National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee and establishing an agenda for negotiations.

The labour centre argued that these administrative steps must begin early enough to prevent unnecessary delays in reaching a new agreement.

Ajaero also cited the National Minimum Wage Act signed on April 18, 2019, as part of the legal framework guiding the wage review process. 

The union maintained that negotiations should begin at least six months before the existing arrangement expires.

In its response to the government’s position, the NLC warned that delaying the process could worsen workers’ financial difficulties and undermine efforts to achieve an orderly transition to a new wage structure.

“The time is now,” the union’s position indicated, rejecting the suggestion that the government should wait for a later date to convene the tripartite committee.

The NLC president further argued that workers needed urgent government intervention to cope with prevailing economic conditions.

The dispute comes days after the labour congress issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government on October 9, 2026, outlining several demands.

Among them were a reduction in petrol prices to their 2024 levels, the commencement of minimum wage negotiations before the end of October, immediate tax relief and payment of outstanding wage awards.

The union also demanded the implementation of the February 5, 2026, agreement with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), alongside the resolution of outstanding demands by the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC).

Meanwhile, Dingyadi had argued that reopening negotiations barely two years after the implementation of the current wage could be premature and inconsistent with the law.

The minister also warned that an early review could disrupt industrial relations, noting that the existing minimum wage represented an increase of more than 133 per cent over the previous N30,000 wage.

Despite the government’s position, the NLC has maintained that commencing negotiations ahead of the review date is necessary to give stakeholders sufficient time to reach an agreement.

The standoff now places pressure on both parties to resolve their differences over the timing of negotiations, as the labour movement pushes for early action to address workers’ economic concerns.