NLC Issues Two-Week Ultimatum on Petrol, Minimum Wage

The Nigeria Labour Congress has given the Nigerian Government a two-week ultimatum to reduce the price of petrol and begin renegotiating the national minimum wage.

The labour union said it would consider further action if the government failed to meet its demands within the stipulated period.

The ultimatum was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the NLC National Executive Council and Central Working Committee at Labour House, Abuja.

Signed by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, the communiqué said the two-week deadline would begin on Friday, October 9, 2026.

The Congress also directed its affiliates and allies to remain on high alert and prepare for what it described as “decisive efforts” against policies it considers harmful to workers and Nigerians.

The NLC said its decisions followed discussions on what it described as worsening economic, political and survival crises confronting workers and the wider population.

“The joint meeting-in-session notes with profound alarm the deepening misery inflicted on the Nigerian working class and the broader masses by the neo-liberal policies of the federal government and its state institutions,” the communiqué said.

It added that inflation continued to rise, the naira had lost value, wages had been significantly eroded and the cost of living had become unbearable.

NLC demands minimum wage renegotiation

On the national minimum wage, the NLC said the purchasing power of workers’ earnings had been severely affected by the depreciation of the naira and rising living costs.

“The current national minimum wage has been rendered worthless by the relentless depreciation of the naira and the astronomical rise in the cost of living,” the Congress said.

The labour body said workers could no longer afford basic necessities, including food, shelter, healthcare, transportation and education, on their current wages.

It consequently demanded that the Nigerian Government begin renegotiating the national minimum wage before the end of October.

“The Congress demands a living wage that reflects the true cost of living and the dignity of the Nigerian worker. Any further delay by the federal government remains unacceptable,” it said.

Labour demands petrol price cut

The NLC also renewed its demand for an immediate reduction in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol.

The union said the high cost of petrol had increased transportation and food costs, as well as the prices of other essential goods.

“The joint meeting reiterates its call on the federal government to work with relevant agencies to immediately reduce the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol,” the communiqué said.

The Congress asked the government to reduce the pump price of petrol nationwide to the level recorded when the current national minimum wage was signed into law in 2024.

It also demanded tax relief for workers and immediate wage awards to cushion the impact of rising living costs.

“These measures are the bare minimum required to alleviate the suffering of Nigerian workers and restore a measure of dignity to their lives,” the NLC said.

NLC lists other demands

Beyond petrol prices and the minimum wage, the NLC demanded the implementation of the Terms of Settlement reached with the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals on February 5, 2026.

It also called for the implementation of outstanding demands of the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council.

The Congress said the Nigerian Government had two weeks from Friday, October 9, to respond to its demands.

The NLC specifically demanded that the government reduce petrol prices to their 2024 level, begin the process of negotiating a new national minimum wage, implement the February 5 agreement with health sector unions and address the outstanding demands of the public sector negotiating council.

NLC threatens further action

The labour body warned that failure to meet its demands within the two-week period would compel it to take further action.

“Failure of which the NLC will be compelled to take remedial steps as would be directed by the relevant Organs,” the communiqué said.

The NLC also reaffirmed what it described as its “historical responsibility” to resist exploitation and oppression.

It urged its affiliates and allies to remain prepared to respond to what it described as anti-people policies.