The battle line is drawn as the
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has handed the federal government a fourteen days ultimatum to slash the price of petrol and start renegotiation of the national minimum wage.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the ultimatum is contained in a communiqué signed by NLC president,
Joe Ajaero, after a joint meeting of the national executive council (NEC) and central working committee (CWC) on Thursday in Abuja.
The meeting deliberated on the state of the nation, economic hardship, rising cost of living and what the NLC labelled existential threats facing workers and the masses.
In the communiqué, Ajaero stated that the federal government should reduce petrol prices to the level prevailing when the current national minimum wage was signed into law in 2024.
“The joint meeting issues a two-week ultimatum to the federal government, beginning from Friday, Oct. 9, 2026,” the communiqué reads.
“Within this period, government is expected to take measures to reduce the price of petrol across the nation and commence the process of renegotiating a new national minimum wage.
“Failure of which the NLC will be compelled to take remedial steps as would be directed by the relevant organs.”
The NLC states that the present national minimum wage had been flawed by the depreciation of the naira and rising cost of living, leaving workers unable to afford basic necessities.
He demanded that the federal government would commence renegotiation of the minimum wage before the end of October, saying workers deserved a living wage that reflected prevailing economic realities.
While calling for an immediate reduction in the price of petrol, Ajaero said that high petrol price had driven up transportation fares and the cost of food and other essential goods, worsening the hardship facing Nigerians.
He further demanded implementation of the terms of settlement reached with the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals (JOHESU) on February 5, 2026.
Ajaero further asked for implementation of the outstanding demands of the joint public sector negotiating council (JPSNC), as well as agreed tax relief measures.
He called for immediate payment of wage awards to workers to cushion the impact of rising living costs, saying the government must provide relief to workers facing worsening economic pressure.
Ajaero appealed to workers and NLC affiliates to stay organised and prepared to react if the federal government failed to meet the demands within the given period.
He restated that the NLC’s commitment to defending workers’ interests, urging affiliates and progressive allies to remain on high alert.
