The Nigeria Labour Congress has declared a nationwide show of force for International Workers’ Day 2026, ordering workers in non-compliant states to take to the streets in protest against the failure to implement the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act.
In a strongly worded directive signed by General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja, the union accused several state governments of outright defiance of the law, citing unpaid wages, refusal to implement consequential adjustments, and the exclusion of local government workers, teachers, and health personnel.
President Bola Tinubu had signed the revised minimum wage into law in July 2024, raising it from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000 after tense negotiations. But nearly two years later, labour says compliance remains patchy, with some states accused of deliberately stalling implementation.
“This is not just negligence, it is an assault on the dignity and survival of Nigerian workers,” the NLC said, warning that symbolic celebrations would not replace real accountability.
The union has banned all indoor May Day events in defaulting states, including ceremonies at government houses and official receptions. Instead, workers have been mobilised to assemble early and march in coordinated processions across state capitals, ending at key government institutions where demands will be formally presented.
The directive is uncompromising. Any state labour leader who waters it down or opts for “passive celebration” risks immediate sanctions.
The NLC made it clear that the minimum wage was not handed out as a favour but won through struggle, and warned that workers would not stand by while governments undermine it.
Mounting frustration among workers is being fuelled by soaring inflation, which has rapidly eroded the value of the ₦70,000 wage. Many say it no longer covers basic needs, from food to housing and education.
Labour leaders are now pushing for a fresh review, proposing a new minimum wage of ₦154,000 to reflect current economic realities.
