The Federal Government and organised labour are set to resume negotiations on Tuesday over petrol prices, workers’ welfare and minimum-wage demands, with the outcome expected to determine whether the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) proceeds with plans for possible nationwide industrial action.
The meeting follows an earlier round of talks on October 22 that ended without an agreement, prompting labour to warn that it could take further action if the government failed to make meaningful progress.
The NLC Assistant Secretary-General, Chris Onyeka, said the union expected the government to present concrete proposals on demands already submitted.
“We expect them to come with answers to our demands, so that the meeting will not be prolonged,” Onyeka told newsmen.
He added that labour did not expect the government to reopen discussions by asking it to restate its demands.
A labour source said the government had requested more time to prepare for the meeting, while a Trade Union Congress official said the outcome would determine the next course of action.
The Head of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Labour, Ann Daniel, also confirmed that a meeting was expected to hold on Tuesday.
At the centre of the dispute is labour’s demand that petrol prices be reduced to the levels prevailing when the current national minimum wage was signed into law in 2024.
The NLC is also demanding tax relief for workers, immediate wage awards and the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage before the end of October.
Other outstanding issues include the implementation of agreements affecting health-sector workers and demands by the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council concerning peculiar allowances, wage awards and hazard allowances.
The current national minimum wage of N70,000 was signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on July 29, 2024, after negotiations between the government, organised labour and other stakeholders.
The Federal Government has maintained that the next statutory review is due on June 1, 2027, based on a three-year review cycle. Labour, however, argues that preparations for a new wage negotiation should begin immediately to allow sufficient time for discussions and implementation.
The NLC had issued a two-week ultimatum beginning October 9, demanding action on petrol prices, minimum-wage negotiations and unresolved labour agreements. After the October 22 meeting ended without an agreement, the deadline was extended to October 27.
The union has directed its affiliates and state councils to prepare for possible nationwide action if the negotiations fail to produce meaningful results. No final decision on further industrial action had been announced in the report ahead of Tuesday’s meeting.
Pensioners Demand Outstanding Benefits
Meanwhile, the Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to pay eligible retirees three months of outstanding fuel-subsidy palliatives totalling N75,000.
The association said the amount represented three unpaid monthly payments of N25,000 for eligible beneficiaries.
In a communiqué issued after its National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on October 22 and signed by President-General Benjamin Maisamari Amako and General Secretary Franklin Erinle, the association also called for clarification of the implementation of pension harmonisation, which took effect in January 2026.
It urged the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate to make the relevant government circular available and convene a stakeholders’ meeting to address complaints and outstanding cases.
The association also called for safeguards to ensure the planned relaunch of PTAD’s “I Am Alive” verification platform did not disrupt pension payments to elderly, sick or physically incapacitated retirees.
On healthcare, it urged PTAD and the National Health Insurance Authority to simplify enrolment in the Pensioner Health Insurance Scheme through assisted registration, accessible centres and support for retirees unable to travel.
The association said eligible pensioners should not lose access to benefits because of difficulties with registration, verification or other administrative procedures.
It called on the government to ensure prompt payment of pension entitlements and improve communication with retirees amid rising living costs.
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