Nigeria Workers to stage street rallies across states as NLC rejects indoor celebrations, demands full enforcement of N70,000 wage law
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed workers across Nigeria to embark on nationwide protests over the failure of some state governments to fully implement the new national minimum wage.
The directive, issued ahead of the 2026 May Day celebration, mandates workers in affected states to take to the streets instead of participating in traditional indoor ceremonies.
According to the NLC, the move is in response to widespread non-compliance with the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act, which raised the minimum wage from ₦30,000 to ₦70,000.
In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, the labour body condemned what it described as violations of the law by several state governments, including failure to implement consequential salary adjustments and delays in payment.
The union directed that all May Day activities in non-compliant states must be held as peaceful street protests, beginning from labour houses, union secretariats, or designated public squares.
Workers are expected to march through major routes in their respective state capitals, with processions ending at government houses, state assemblies, or offices of heads of service, where formal demands will be presented.
The NLC also warned that no official celebrations should be held in collaboration with defaulting state governments, stressing that any state council that fails to comply with the directive risks disciplinary action.
The congress emphasized that the minimum wage law is binding on all states and must be implemented without exception, urging workers to remain peaceful but resolute during the protests.
The planned demonstrations are expected to dominate this year’s May Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, as labour unions intensify pressure on authorities to address rising economic hardship and declining real wages caused by inflation.
Read also Nigeria Labour Congress Orders Nationwide Protests Over Unimplemented Minimum Wage Ahead of May Day
