The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a strong warning to the federal government and the National Assembly over proposed constitutional changes that could alter the structure of labour relations in the country.
At the heart of the tension is a plan to transfer labour-related issues — including the national minimum wage — from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List. This would empower individual state governments to set their own wage standards, a move the NLC fiercely opposes.
Speaking during the National Administrative Council meeting of the Central Working Committee held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, NLC President Joe Ajaero described the proposal as “an exercise in futility” and a threat to national cohesion.
According to Ajaero, the attempt to decentralise wage determination violates International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, which recognise the minimum wage as a national benchmark to be implemented uniformly across countries.
“This is a deliberate and dangerous plot to erode workers’ rights, dismantle the national minimum wage structure, and shift labour responsibilities to individual states,” Ajaero said. He also condemned alleged efforts to establish state-controlled industrial courts, warning that such measures would weaken collective bargaining and deepen inequality among Nigerian workers.
The NLC has vowed to mobilise its members for mass action if the proposed amendments proceed, warning that the move could trigger a nationwide revolt.
The confrontation underscores a growing tension between organised labour and the federal government over the future of wage policy in Nigeria, as economic hardship and inflation continue to batter the working class.
