The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has given the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to reduce petrol prices, begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage and implement outstanding agreements with organised labour, warning that failure to meet its demands could trigger further action.
The ultimatum, which takes effect on Friday, October 9, 2026, was issued after a joint meeting of the union’s National Executive Council and Central Working Committee at Labour House, Abuja.
In a communiqué signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero, the Congress demanded that petrol prices be reduced to the level prevailing when the current national minimum wage was signed into law in 2024.
It also directed the government to commence negotiations for a new minimum wage before the end of October.
The labour centre said the purchasing power of Nigerian workers had been severely weakened by the depreciation of the naira and rising costs of essential goods and services.
“The current national minimum wage has been rendered worthless by the relentless depreciation of the naira and the astronomical rise in the cost of living,” the communiqué stated.
According to the NLC, workers are increasingly struggling to afford basic necessities, including food, housing, healthcare, transportation and education.
The Congress argued that high petrol prices had compounded the hardship by increasing transport fares and the cost of food and other commodities.
It therefore called on the government to work with relevant agencies to bring down petrol prices nationwide, insisting that workers should not continue to bear the burden of rising living costs without corresponding relief.
NLC demands wage awards, tax relief
Beyond petrol prices and minimum wage negotiations, the NLC demanded immediate wage awards and tax relief for workers.
It described the measures as essential to cushioning the effects of economic hardship on employees and their families.
The union also called for the implementation of the February 5, 2026, Terms of Settlement reached with the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals (JOHESU), alongside action on outstanding demands presented by the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council.
The Congress warned that failure to address its demands within the two-week period would force it to consider further measures.
It consequently directed its affiliates and allies to remain on high alert, signalling the possibility of an escalation if the government fails to respond.
FG announces petrol price measures
The ultimatum comes as the Federal Government moves to address renewed concerns over petrol prices.
On Thursday, October 8, Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Taiwo Oyedele announced plans to negotiate a ceiling of ₦1,350 per litre on petrol’s ex-gantry or landing cost, subject to monthly reviews.
The proposed ceiling is intended to moderate price volatility. However, it does not automatically mean petrol will sell for ₦1,350 per litre at filling stations, as retail prices may reflect additional costs.
The government also announced an initial 30-day discount on petrol sold by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, with priority for public transport operators.
Oyedele said the arrangement was designed to enable sales at cost rather than restore the former fuel subsidy regime.
The NLC’s position, however, goes beyond the temporary measures announced by the government. It wants petrol prices returned to their 2024 level when President Bola Tinubu approved the current minimum wage.
Workers intensify pressure over minimum wage
The NLC’s demand follows renewed labour tensions over wages, fuel prices and the rising cost of living.
Public-sector workers under the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council embarked on a three-day warning strike earlier in October over unresolved welfare issues, including minimum wage negotiations and wage awards.
The NLC has also repeatedly questioned the adequacy of the ₦70,000 minimum wage, arguing that rising expenses have significantly reduced its value.
Tinubu signed the current national minimum wage into law in July 2024 after negotiations involving the Federal Government, organised labour and the private sector. The agreement raised the government’s offer from ₦62,000 to ₦70,000 and provided for a review after three years rather than five.
The latest ultimatum adds pressure on the administration to address labour’s demands while pursuing measures to manage fuel-price volatility.
In a separate development reflecting broader concerns about workers’ welfare, the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) has called for policies to ease the rising cost of food, transportation, healthcare, housing and education.
The NLC said its affiliates must remain prepared to defend workers’ interests, warning that the government would face further action if it failed to respond within the stipulated period.
