Strike: Workers on red alert as FG, Organised labour’s meeting ends in deadlock

…gives FG until October 27 to address demands

The Federal Government’s meeting with organised labour ended in a deadlock on Thursday, with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) placing their affiliates, state councils and civil society allies on red alert for possible nationwide industrial action.

The development followed the failure of the meeting, convened at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja, to resolve workers’ demands for a reduction in petrol prices, renegotiation of the national minimum wage, implementation of agreed tax relief and outstanding agreements affecting public-sector and health workers.

Organised labour has now given the Federal Government until Tuesday, October 27, when negotiations are scheduled to resume, to demonstrate its readiness to address the outstanding issues or risk a fresh escalation of the dispute.

In a joint statement issued on Thursday, the labour centres expressed disappointment with the government’s handling of the meeting, alleging that its delegation arrived without the necessary authority to negotiate substantive solutions to the issues presented.

“Regrettably, the government delegation came unprepared and without the necessary mandates to engage substantively on these issues. No concrete commitments were secured, and the outstanding issues remain unresolved,” the statement said.

In the statement jointly signed by Comrade Benson Upah, Acting General Secretary of the NLC, and Comrade Nuhu Toro, Secretary General of the TUC, the labour centres, the government requested an adjournment to enable it to assemble the relevant ministers and heads of departments and agencies capable of making decisions on the demands.

“The Honourable Minister requested for adjournment of the meeting to Tuesday, 27th October 2026, to allow the government to make adequate arrangements for a productive session including assembling all the relevant ministers and Heads of Departments and Agencies,” the statement added.

The unions, however, warned that the postponement must not become another avenue for prolonging negotiations without concrete results.

“NLC and TUC remains committed to dialogue, but we will not accept indefinite delay,” the statement declared.

The labour centres said that labour  would report back to its relevant organs for further deliberations, adding that the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting would determine the next line of action.

“We will report back to our organs, and if no meaningful progress is made on Tuesday, the relevant organs of the NLC will decide the next line of action,” they stated.

In a further indication of the growing industrial tension, the unions urged their affiliates and state councils to begin preparations for possible action across the country, even as they expressed hope that the government would meet their demands.

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“However, we urge all affiliates of NLC and TUC; all state councils and our civil society allies to be at alert and start mobilizing for a possible action across the nation while we hope that the tenets of our demands are met by the government,” the statement said.

They also called on Nigerian workers and the general public to remain calm, assuring them that organised labour would continue to pursue their interests through legitimate means.

“We call on Nigerian workers and the general public to remain calm and resolute. Organised Labour will be attending the next meeting believing that government will deliver on each of the workers’ demands.

“We assure all that we shall continue to pursue the interests of workers and the masses through every legitimate means available,” the statement added.

At the centre of the dispute are five major areas of concern to organised labour, reflecting its demands for economic relief, improved wages and the implementation of agreements reached with the government.

The unions are demanding a reduction in petrol prices to the levels prevailing when the current national minimum wage was signed into law in 2024, arguing that the cost of fuel has continued to place pressure on workers and households.

They are also seeking the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage, alongside the implementation of agreed tax relief measures intended to ease the financial burden on workers.

Other outstanding issues include the implementation of the February 5, 2026, Terms of Settlement reached with the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals (JOHESU), as well as the demands of the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council (JPSNC) concerning peculiar allowances, wage awards and hazard allowances.

The unions have maintained that the government must honour existing agreements and take concrete measures to address the deteriorating purchasing power of workers.

Thursday’s deadlock comes amid an intensifying dispute between labour  and the Federal Government over the rising cost of living, fuel prices and the erosion of workers’ earnings.

Earlier in October, the NLC issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding measures to reduce petrol prices, begin renegotiating the national minimum wage and implement outstanding agreements with workers.

The ultimatum, which commenced on October 9, also covered the implementation of the JOHESU settlement, the JPSNC’s demands, tax relief and wage awards to cushion the effects of rising living costs.

The Congress argued that the existing minimum wage had lost significant purchasing power amid the depreciation of the naira and rising prices of essential goods and services, making it increasingly difficult for workers to meet basic needs.

The dispute has been further complicated by disagreements over the timing of fresh minimum wage negotiations and the government’s response to labour’s demands for immediate economic relief.

With Thursday’s meeting ending without a resolution and the next session scheduled for October 27, the prospect of industrial action now depends largely on whether the government can present concrete proposals acceptable to organised labour.

Although the NLC and TUC have not announced a nationwide strike, their directive for affiliates, state councils and civil society allies to mobilise signals that preparations for possible industrial action are being stepped up.