The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has strongly condemned a proposed move by the National Assembly to transfer labour-related matters — including the national minimum wage — from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List, warning that such action will be met with fierce resistance.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, issued the warning on Friday during the National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting of the Central Working Committee held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Ajaero described the proposed legislative change as “an exercise in futility,” alleging it is a calculated attempt to dismantle the national wage framework and shift labour responsibilities — including the creation of state-controlled industrial courts — to individual states. He warned that this would violate International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions, which recognize labour matters as national issues, not state-level concerns.
“Globally, the issue of minimum wage is treated as a national concern,” Ajaero said. “The National Assembly should not embark on this futile exercise unless lawmakers are also willing to have their own salaries determined by their respective states.”
He further stated that any attempt to “smuggle” labour issues into the Concurrent List would provoke widespread protests from the labour movement — even on election day if necessary.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Ajaero reaffirmed that the NLC and its affiliates remain committed to defending the rights and welfare of Nigerian workers.
“All over the world, minimum wage exists to protect workers. In Nigeria, the national minimum wage is ₦70,000. The law does not stop any state from paying above that threshold — and many already do,” he noted.
He warned that decentralizing wage determination would deepen inequality and put the average worker at risk, particularly in states with weaker financial capacity or poor governance records.
On the issue of implementation, Ajaero clarified that the NLC was not aware of any state refusing to comply with the new minimum wage law.
Addressing the delayed enforcement of local government autonomy, the labour leader also called for a fresh legal interpretation of the Supreme Court’s ruling to ensure full compliance with constitutional provisions.
Ajaero concluded by urging lawmakers to protect workers’ rights and uphold justice, rather than pursuing policies that could destabilize labour relations and erode national unity.
