As the deadline for the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage approaches on Monday, December 1, three states Katsina, Cross River, and Zamfara are making last-minute efforts to avert a strike by workers.
These states have yet to approve the new wage, while 33 other states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have already complied with the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act.
The situation comes after the Imo State Government officially sanctioned the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage on Tuesday. Many states, including Lagos and Rivers, have gone a step further by offering higher pay, with Lagos setting its wage at N85,000, and plans for a potential increase to N100,000 by 2025.
In Cross River, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have been particularly vocal about the need for the state to implement the N70,000 wage. Following failed negotiations with state officials, the unions called for a two-day warning strike, which began on November 24, signaling their readiness to escalate the matter if the state government does not take action. Labour leaders have threatened an indefinite strike if their demands are not met.
Gregory Ulayi, the Chairman of NLC in Cross River, stated that the two-day warning strike was a call to action and that civil servants would return to work only if the state government responds favorably. “If the government does not negotiate and do the needful, we will embark on a total strike,” he warned.
Cross River’s government has responded by setting up a committee to negotiate with labor leaders, acknowledging the national deadline and working to ensure the implementation of the N70,000 wage, or even higher, if possible. However, as of Thursday, negotiations were still ongoing, with no agreement reached.
Similarly, Katsina State is facing pressure, with a committee established last month to oversee the implementation of the new wage. However, reports indicate that the committee has yet to finalize its recommendations, and workers remain uncertain as the deadline looms. Labour unions in the state have expressed concern, but sources suggest that negotiations could continue until the very last moment.
Zamfara State has also been in discussions regarding the new wage, with the state government setting up a committee to finalize the details. While the government assures that the wage will be implemented, the exact timing remains uncertain. Mustafa Jafaru Kaura, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Dauda Lawal on Media and Communications, assured that workers in Zamfara would not be left behind and that the implementation would occur soon.
The N70,000 minimum wage is part of a nationwide effort to address the economic challenges faced by Nigerian workers, with many states offering higher pay to alleviate hardship. However, the delay in Katsina, Cross River, and Zamfara has raised tensions, and the looming strike could affect the functioning of both state governments and the workforce in these regions.
