The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to reduce petrol price and commence renegotiation of the national minimum wage.
The decision was taken at the Joint Meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) and Central Working Committee (CWC) held at t Labour House, Abuja, on the 7th day of October, 2026, a communique signed by the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero,said.
The Congress noted with profound alarm the deepening misery inflicted on the Nigerian working class and the broader masses by the neo-liberal policies of the federal government and its state institutions.
Commenting on the economy, NEC stated that inflation continues to soar unabated, the naira remains traumatised, wages have been rendered worthless, and the cost of living has become unbearable.”
Besides, NEC-in-session declares that no society can sustainably develop under a regime of corporate plunder and neo-liberal enslavement.
On its stand on minimum wage, the NEC-in-session said the joint meeting observes with grave concern that the current national minimum wage has been rendered worthless by the relentless depreciation of the naira and the high roof rise in the cost of living.
The Nigerian workers can no longer afford the basic necessities of life; food, shelter, healthcare, transportation, and education; on their current wages, it said.
The union said the joint meeting reiterates its call on the federal government to work with relevant agencies to immediately reduce the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.
It noted that the exorbitant pump price of petrol has had a cascading effect on the cost of transportation, food, and other essential goods, further deepening the hardship of workers and the masses.
Commenting on relief measures, it demanded that the federal government grant tax relief to workers as agreed and immediately provide Wage Awards to workers to cushion the impact of the rising cost of living.”
The meeting issues a two-week ultimatum to the federal government, beginning from Friday, the 9th day of October, 2026 within which it is expected to, among other things: Take measures to reduce the price of petrol across the nation to what it was at the signing of the current national minimum wage in 2024 to cushion the impact of the energy crisis on workers and masses as being done by other nations of the world; commence the process of renegotiating a new national minimum wage; Implement the dictates of the Terms of Settlement reached with Joint Health Sector Unions and nAssembly of Healthcare Professionals (JOHESU) on the 5th day of February, 2026, and other new demands that have arisen since then; Implement the demands of the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council (JPSNC).
