FG, Labour Resume Talks Over Minimum Wage, Petrol Prices

Organised labour will decide its next course of action after meeting with the Federal Government on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, as negotiations over petrol prices, workers’ welfare and a proposed new minimum wage remain unresolved.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) are demanding concrete commitments from the government to address their concerns and avert a possible nationwide industrial action.

The unions are seeking a reduction in petrol prices to the levels prevailing in 2024, tax relief for workers, immediate wage awards and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage ahead of the government’s proposed June 2027 review.

NLC Assistant Secretary-General, Chris Onyeka, confirmed on Monday that the Federal Government had invited organised labour to another meeting following an earlier negotiation that ended without an agreement.

Onyeka said the unions expected the government to present concrete responses to their demands rather than reopen discussions on issues already submitted for consideration.

“We expect them to come with answers to our demands, so that the meeting will not be prolonged,” he said.

A source within organised labour also confirmed that the government had requested more time to prepare for the meeting, adding that the outcome would determine the unions’ next decision.

The meeting follows negotiations held on October 22, which ended without a resolution. According to the unions, the government delegation lacked the necessary authority to negotiate substantively on the outstanding issues.

In a joint statement signed by the acting NLC General Secretary, Benson Upah, and the TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, organised labour said the government delegation arrived without the required mandate to make meaningful commitments.

The government subsequently requested an adjournment to allow relevant ministers and heads of departments and agencies to participate in the next round of discussions.

The unions had earlier issued a two-week ultimatum on October 8, demanding a reduction in petrol prices, the commencement of minimum wage negotiations and the resolution of outstanding labour agreements.

Although the ultimatum expired on October 22, organised labour extended the deadline to October 27, warning that it could embark on nationwide industrial action if the government failed to address its demands.

A major point of disagreement is the timing of negotiations for a new national minimum wage to replace the current N70,000 monthly wage introduced in 2024.

The Federal Government maintains that the next review is due on June 1, 2027, citing the three-year review cycle provided for under the National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, as amended in 2024.

However, the NLC wants negotiations to begin immediately, arguing that early preparations would allow sufficient time for discussions and prevent delays in implementing a new wage structure.

The union has also called for the inauguration of a National Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee involving the government, organised labour and employers.

Meanwhile, organised labour maintains that the current minimum wage has lost much of its purchasing power because of rising living costs, particularly transportation, food, housing, healthcare and education.

Beyond the minimum wage dispute, the unions are demanding the implementation of tax relief measures previously agreed upon with the government and immediate wage awards to cushion the effects of rising living costs.

They are also seeking the implementation of outstanding agreements affecting health-sector workers and other public-sector employees, including issues relating to peculiar allowances, wage awards and hazard allowances.

The outcome of Tuesday’s meeting is expected to determine whether the government can reach an agreement with organised labour before the extended deadline expires.

The NLC has directed its affiliates and state councils to prepare for possible nationwide action if the negotiations fail to produce meaningful progress.