The Nigeria Labour Congress has given the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to reduce the price of petrol, commence renegotiation of the national minimum wage and implement outstanding agreements with workers.
The ultimatum followed a joint meeting of the National Executive Council and Central Working Committee of the NLC held at the Olaitan Oyerinde Hall, Labour House, Abuja.
In a communiqué signed by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and made available to journalists on Thursday, the union said the ultimatum would commence on Friday, October 9, 2026.
The labour centre warned that failure by the government to meet its demands would compel the Congress to take further action.
The NLC specifically demanded that the Federal Government reduce the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit to the level it was when the current national minimum wage was signed into law in 2024.
It also demanded the immediate commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage before the end of October.
The union further called for the implementation of the February 5, 2026, Terms of Settlement reached with the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals, as well as action on the demands of the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council.
The NLC also demanded tax relief and immediate wage awards for workers, saying the measures were necessary to cushion the impact of rising living costs.
The union said the N70,000 minimum wage had been eroded by the depreciation of the naira and rising costs of food, housing, healthcare, transportation and education.
It also linked the erosion of workers’ purchasing power to the high cost of petrol, arguing that the price of the commodity had continued to push up transportation costs and the prices of essential goods.
The development comes as the Federal Government announced measures aimed at easing pressure from rising petrol prices.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, said on Thursday that the government was negotiating a ceiling of N1,350 per litre on the ex-gantry or landing cost of petrol, subject to monthly reviews.
The government also announced a 30-day discount on petrol dispensed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, with priority given to public transporters.
However, the NLC insisted that the government must go beyond the proposed measures and reduce petrol prices to the level that prevailed when the N70,000 minimum wage was approved in 2024.
The latest ultimatum comes after public-sector workers under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council embarked on a three-day warning strike earlier in October over rising living costs, petrol prices, wage awards and minimum wage negotiations.
The NLC also raised concerns in September over the declining purchasing power of workers, with Ajaero saying the N70,000 minimum wage had been overtaken by increases in the cost of essential goods and services.
The current national minimum wage was approved by President Bola Tinubu in July 2024 following negotiations involving the Federal Government, organised labour and the private sector.
The NLC said failure by the government to respond to its demands within the two-week period would have consequences.
It consequently directed its affiliates and allies to remain on high alert and prepared for further action.
The development also comes amid a separate labour dispute in the Federal Capital Territory, where the FCT Council of the NLC commenced an indefinite strike over disagreements with the FCT Administration concerning teachers’ promotion policies.
The latest ultimatum increases pressure on the Federal Government to address workers’ concerns over wages, fuel prices and the implementation of existing labour agreements.
