By Faith Adama
As the December 1 deadline to implement the N70,000 minimum wage approaches, states yet to comply are in last-minute talks with labour unions to avoid a nationwide strike.
Katsina, Cross River, and Zamfara are among the states still pending, following Imo State’s approval of the new wage on Tuesday.
Currently, 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory have adopted the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act, with some offering amounts above the mandated N70,000, including Lagos and Rivers, which pay N85,000.
Lagos plans to increase wages to N100,000 starting in 2025.
In Cross River, workers staged a two-day warning strike due to delays in implementing the wage, with labour leaders accusing the government of procrastination.
Gregory Ulayi of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warned of an indefinite strike if the government fails to act.
Katsina is also under pressure, with a committee formed in October to strategize the wage implementation but no final decision yet.
Labour unions in all three states are holding firm on their demand for full compliance with the wage law by the deadline.
