The Federal Government and organised labour are set to resume talks on Tuesday over rising petrol prices, workers’ wages and other welfare issues, amid threats of nationwide industrial action.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) say the outcome of the meeting will determine their next steps after an earlier round of talks ended without an agreement.
NLC Assistant Secretary-General Chris Onyeka said the unions expected the government to present clear responses to their demands.
“We expect them to come with answers to our demands, so that the meeting will not be prolonged,” Onyeka said.
“We don’t expect them to come and start asking us again, ‘What are your demands?’
“The demands have already been tabled before them,” he added.
The meeting follows an Oct. 22 session that ended without a resolution.
Organised labour accused the government delegation of arriving without the authority to negotiate meaningfully.
“Regrettably, the government delegation came unprepared and without the necessary mandates to engage substantively on these issues.
No concrete commitments were secured, and the outstanding issues remain unresolved,” the unions said in a joint statement signed by NLC Acting General Secretary Benson Upah and TUC Secretary-General Nuhu Toro.
The government requested more time to prepare for another meeting, which was scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 27.
Labour is demanding that petrol prices return to their 2024 levels, when the current minimum wage was signed into law.
It also wants the government to begin negotiations for a new minimum wage before the end of October, provide tax relief and introduce immediate wage awards to support workers.
The NLC says the current minimum wage of ₦70,000 has lost much of its value because of rising living costs and the falling value of the naira.
However, the Federal Government maintains that the current minimum wage is due for review in June 2027, based on the three-year review cycle provided by law.
The union disagrees and wants preparations for fresh negotiations to begin immediately.
Other demands include implementing agreements with health-sector workers and resolving outstanding issues involving public servants’ allowances.
The NLC has directed its affiliates and state councils to prepare for possible nationwide action if the government fails to make meaningful progress.
The unions say they remain open to dialogue but warn that further delays could force them to consider other measures.
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