The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has said it expects the Federal Government to present concrete proposals addressing workers’ outstanding demands as negotiations resume on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
The talks follow an earlier meeting that ended without an agreement on petrol prices, minimum wage negotiations and other unresolved labour issues affecting public-sector workers.
The NLC had insisted that the government should come prepared with responses to demands already submitted by organised labour rather than prolong discussions without concrete commitments.
The previous meeting, held on October 22, ended without a resolution after the government delegation reportedly arrived without the necessary mandate to negotiate substantively on the issues raised by labour.
The government subsequently requested an adjournment to enable relevant ministers and heads of departments and agencies to participate in the next session.
In a joint statement signed by the acting NLC General Secretary, Benson Upah, and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, organised labour expressed disappointment over the outcome of the earlier meeting, saying no concrete commitments were secured.
The unions said the government requested additional time to make adequate preparations for a productive engagement scheduled for Tuesday.
Read also: NLC presses FG to begin new minimum wage talks before ultimatum expires
The outcome of the meeting is expected to influence the next steps by organised labour, which has warned that nationwide action remains an option if the government fails to make meaningful progress.
The NLC had directed its affiliates and state councils to prepare for possible industrial action following the expiration of its initial two-week ultimatum on October 22. The deadline was subsequently extended to October 27 to allow further negotiations.
The dispute covers several issues, including the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage, a reduction in petrol prices, tax relief for workers, wage awards and the implementation of outstanding agreements affecting health-sector and other public-service employees.
The union wants negotiations for a new minimum wage to begin immediately, arguing that workers’ purchasing power has continued to decline amid rising living costs despite the introduction of the N70,000 monthly minimum wage in 2024.
However, the Federal Government maintains that the current minimum wage is due for review on June 1, 2027, citing the three-year review cycle provided under the National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, as amended in 2024.
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Labour has rejected the position, insisting that preparations for a new wage review should begin without further delay.
The NLC is also demanding a reduction in petrol prices to levels prevailing when the current minimum wage was signed into law in 2024. It argues that rising fuel costs have increased transportation expenses and contributed to higher prices of food and other essential goods.
Other demands include the implementation of previously agreed tax relief measures, immediate wage awards to cushion workers against economic hardship, and the resolution of outstanding allowances and agreements involving public-sector employees.
Efforts by BusinessDay to obtain further details from the Nigeria Labour Congress on the expected outcome of the negotiations and its planned next steps were unsuccessful as Labour union was yet to respond to enquiries sent to Labour centre as of the time of filing this report.
