The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has firmly opposed any move by the National Assembly to remove labour-related issues, including the national minimum wage, from the exclusive legislative list of the Federal Government.
Speaking on Friday during the National Administrative Council (NAC) meeting of the Central Working Committee held in Abeokuta, Ogun State, NLC President, Joe Ajaero warned that any attempt to transfer such powers to the concurrent list [where individual states would determine workers’ wages] would be fiercely resisted.
Ajaero described the plan as an “exercise in futility,” stressing that the issue of minimum wage is universally treated as a national concern, in accordance with International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions.
He argued that labour regulations are handled at the country level, not by sub-national entities such as states.
“This move is not only anti-worker but a clear violation of ILO standards,” Ajaero stated. “The attempt to decentralise the national minimum wage and establish state-controlled industrial courts to adjudicate labour disputes undermines the unity and fairness embedded in our national wage system.”
The NLC president accused lawmakers of trying to weaken labour protections and warned that any shift in wage responsibility must be applied equally, including to members of the National Assembly.
“They should allow their own states to determine their salaries as well, if they believe in this idea,” he added.
The NLC has consistently maintained that a uniform minimum wage is vital to ensuring equity among workers across the country and preventing states from exploiting their labour force under the guise of federalism.
