News
Labour Kicks As NCS Okays N27,000 Minimum Wage …OBJ, Jonathan, Abdulsalami, Others Attend Meeting
The National Council of State (NCS) has approved N27,000 as the minimum wage for all workers in the country.
The council approved the amount at its meeting in the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja, yesterday.
Following the council’s approval, a minimum wage bill is expected to be sent to the National Assembly, today.
According to the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, the Federal Government is topping the approved amount by N3,000 to N30,000 for its workers.
He said the states were at liberty to augment the new agreement as they deem fit.
The amount approved by the Council of State is N3,000 short of the N30,000 that the Tripartite Committee on Review of National Minimum Wage recommended.
The committee, chaired by a former Head of Service of the Federation, Ms Ama Pepple, had submitted the report, which contained the recommended figure, to President Muhammadu Buhari on November 6, 2018, after many months of deliberations.
Prior to the committee’s recommendation in October, state governors had offered to pay N22,500 as minimum wage.
Nine days after the committee recommended N30,000, on November 15, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) insisted that the states cannot pay the amount, leading to criticism by organised labour, which insisted on N30,000.
On January 8, 2019, the Nigeria Labour Congress held a nationwide protest over what it said was the delay by the Federal Government to transmit a new minimum wage bill to the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress has rejected the N27,000 new national minimum wage adopted by the National Council of States yesterday.
The NLC Secretary-General, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, made this known to newsmen in Abuja.
According to him, the council has no jurisdiction determining another amount after a Tripartite Committee had submitted its report.
“It is abysmal of government to be delaying the submission of an Executive Bill to the National Assembly and by wrongfully adopting N27,000 through the council of states,” he said.
However, Ozo-Eson said the NLC has scheduled an emergency National Executive Council meeting for Friday to weigh on the deadline given to government within which to submit an executive bill to the National Assembly.
The NLC scribe added that the Federal Government was only projecting a shutdown of the economy with its latest action.
“This is because workers should not be held responsible for any development after its NEC meeting on Friday,’’ he said.
The meeting, which was held behind closed doors, started at 11.a.m prompt at the Council Chamber.
Buhari went round to shake hands with some of the past leaders, including Obasanjo as soon as he arrived at the Council Chamber.
Obasanjo also offered the opening Christian prayer while Mohammed Uwais said the Muslim prayer.
One minute silence was observed in honour of former President, late Alhaji Shehu Shagari, and late CJNs Aloysius Katsina-Alu and Idris Kutigi.
Without listing the details of the agenda during the opening session, the Secretary to the SGF, Boss Mustapha said that the meeting will discuss five-point agenda.
But issues expected to be considered at the meeting include the national minimum wage, and confirmation of the appointment of the acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
The forthcoming general elections and security of the nation were also expected to engage the attention of the Council of State.
It would be recalled that the Council of State is comprised of past presidents and heads of state, former and present Chief Justices of Nigeria (CJN), leadership of the National Assembly, state governors, among others.
But at the meeting were former Presidents, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan and former military President, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Others at the meeting were the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, and former CJN, Mohammed Uwais.
Also present were the state governors from Osun, Kebbi, Zamfara, Plateau, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Edo, Lagos, Niger, Borno, Ogun, Ekiti, and Kogi.
State deputy governors at the meeting were those from Bauchi, Kaduna and Rivers, with Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, Head of Service, Winifred Oyo-Ita, National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello and Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige in attendance.
Former Heads of State, Gens Yakubu Gowon and Ibrahim Babangida, and former CJN, Mariam Muktar sent apologises for their absence at the meeting.
The present CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen was conspicuously absent at the meeting.
However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the N27,000 new National Minimum Wage adopted by the National Council of States, yesterday.
The NLC General Secretary, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, made this known to newsmen, yesterday, in Abuja.
According to him, the council has no jurisdiction determining another amount after a Tripartite Committee has submitted its report.
“It is abysmal of government to be delaying the submission of an Executive Bill to the National Assembly and by wrongfully adopting N27,000 through the council of states,” he said.
Ozo-Eson, however, said the NLC has called an emergency National Executive Council meeting for Friday to weigh on the deadline given to government within which to submit an executive bill to the National Assembly.
The NLC general scribe added that the Federal Government was only projecting a shutdown of the economy with its latest action.
“This is because workers should not be held responsible for any development after its NEC meeting on Friday,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Organised Labour in Bayelsa State has commended the approval of N30,000 minimum wage for federal workers and N27,000 for the states by the National Council of State.
The unions, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), told newsmen, yesterday, in Yenagoa, that the approval would improve living conditions of workers.
TUC Chairman in the state, Mr Tari Daunana, said it was good, and urged workers to be more diligent and committed to their duties.
“Yes, with this approval and increase, Nigerian workers will be able to take care of their basic needs.
“The new minimum wage will add value to the lives of workers; we urge workers to be more diligent and committed to duties.
“So, we are all happy, we believe the National Assembly will give it (minimum wage bill) a speedy passage, so that it will come into effect as soon as possible.
“I quite believe that the government’s action will boost the input of the workers and motivate them for optimal productivity,” Daunana added.
Also, the Chairman, Baylesa chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr John Ndiomu, urged the state governors to comply with the approval.
Ndiomu recalled that Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa promised to pay any approved amount as minimum wage.
A civil servant, Mrs Joy Owei, hailed the approval but expressed worries over paying N27, 000 to states’ workers.
Owei described it as “short-changing” workers in the states.
The agency also arrested an 80-year-old suspected drug dealer in Rivers State, a businesswoman linked to cannabis shipments from Canada, a Chadian woman, a couple and other suspects in coordinated operations across Lagos, Edo, Kogi and Rivers states.
The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement, yesterday.
According to the statement, the latest intelligence-led operation came barely one week after NDLEA operatives recovered 558,900 pills of tramadol concealed in the false-bottom compartment of a truck that entered Lagos through the Togo-Benin Republic route.
Babafemi said, “Ongoing efforts to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking syndicate smuggling tramadol from Togo, through Benin Republic into Nigeria have yielded another success with the interception of two long trailers used to move One Million Six Hundred and Thirty (1,630,000) pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in fabricated compartments of the trucks across multiple borders into Lagos.”
He added that one of the two trailers was intercepted on July 2 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where operatives recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor.
Babafemi said, “One of the two trucks already heading to Kano was tracked and located on 2nd July 2026 along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway where NDLEA officers recovered 853,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the trailer and arrested the 22-year-old driver Jabir Kabiru.”
He further disclosed that another trailer was intercepted two days later on the same route.
“Two days later, 4th July, NDLEA operatives acting on processed intelligence successfully tracked and recovered the second trailer from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway while heading to Kano. A total of 777,000 pills of tramadol 250mg concealed in a fabricated compartment beneath the cargo floor of the truck were evacuated and the 22-year-old driver Muhammed Nuhu arrested,” the statement read.
According to Babafemi, investigations established a link between the three intercepted consignments.
He said, “Investigations revealed that all three trucks and consignments intercepted on 21st June, 2nd July and 4th July belong to the same transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Togo-Benin Republic-Nigeria axis.”
The agency also intercepted 4.70 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Babafemi said, “Two consignments of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a combined weight of 4.70 kilograms have been intercepted at the import shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. The cargoes, which arrived the Lagos airport from Canada in cartons with ‘Odugwu’ boldly written on them, came aboard British Airways and Ethiopian Airlines flights on 24th June and 3rd July respectively.”
He said two cargo agents, Ali Rotimi Samson and Orimolade Oluwagbenga, were initially arrested in connection with the shipments, while another suspect, Edeh Onyeamachi Stanislus, was apprehended after arriving at a logistics company to take delivery of the consignments.
The ministry, in a public notice posted on its official X handle, yesterday, described messages, links and websites advertising the alleged programme as fraudulent.
It urged Nigerians to disregard such claims and verify information only through official government channels.
“The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has NOT commenced registration for any ?50,000 National Support Allowance,” the ministry said.
It added, “Disregard fraudulent messages, links and websites claiming otherwise. Verify any info only through official govt channels.”
The alert is in response to a circulating scam flyer that falsely claims the program is ongoing under President Bola Tinubu’s directives.
The fake advertisement, which includes text in Hausa and English, directs victims to a suspicious website (kluspz.com) for applications.
The ministry’s warning comes amid heightened concerns over digital fraud targeting vulnerable populations seeking social support.
Similar scams have previously surfaced around programs like N-Power, prompting questions from citizens in replies to the official post.
NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, hinted at this while making his remarks at the commissioning of the Comrade Godwin Abumisi Pensioners Legacy House and Multipurpose Hall in Abuja.
Ajaero said it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
He advised workers and pensioners to get prepared for the ideological and economic battles that lie ahead.
According to the NLC president, “The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) is one of the proud affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress. Therefore, your struggle is our struggle, and your welfare remains a priority for the organised labour movement.
“We are currently in the preparatory stages for a major national struggle for a comprehensive review of the national minimum wage.
“However, let me state unequivocally that it is no longer acceptable to discuss the welfare of workers without also discussing the welfare of those who have completed their active years of service.
“Accordingly, the Nigeria Labour Congress will not only push for a new national minimum wage but will also demand the establishment of a national minimum pension. It is a historical injustice that men and women who devoted their youth, strength and productive years to the service of this nation should be condemned to live below the poverty line after retirement.”
Ajaero noted that the cost of living has risen astronomically as food, healthcare and transportation have become increasingly unaffordable.
“We cannot continue to allow our senior citizens to survive on pensions that have become poverty wages. Every retiree deserves to live with dignity after decades of faithful service to the nation,” he said.
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He urged pensioners across the country to remain united and prepared as the process begins, adding: “This Legacy House should not merely be seen as a physical structure; it should become a centre for mobilisation, strategic engagement and solidarity as we prepare for the struggles ahead.”
The NLC president pointed out that the working class has always understood that “those who exploit workers are united in advancing their interests. We too must remain united in defending our collective interests and ensuring that government fulfils its obligations to both serving workers and retirees.”
He said the completion of the project should serve as a clarion call to all workers and lovers of the masses.
“We must not only build physical structures but also build a strong movement capable of compelling government to honour its commitments,” he said.
Ajaero further stated: “We will continue to demand the immediate payment of all outstanding pension arrears and the implementation of a pension regime that guarantees every retiree a life of dignity and security.
“Together, we shall continue to fight until every Nigerian worker and pensioner receives the justice, respect and welfare they deserve.”
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