— NLC gives FG October 27 deadline
— Directs affiliates to mobilise members for possible action
By Victor Ahiuma-Young
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned of possible nationwide action following the failure of talks with the Federal Government over workers’ welfare, petrol prices and other labour demands.
The warning followed a meeting between the Federal Government and organised labour at the Ministry of Labour in Abuja on Thursday, October 22, which ended without an agreement on the outstanding issues.
The NLC has given the Federal Government until Tuesday, October 27, to make meaningful progress on the demands, warning that its relevant organs would determine the next line of action if the next meeting fails to produce concrete commitments.
The congress also directed its affiliates, state councils and civil society allies to begin mobilising members for possible nationwide action.
In a statement issued after the meeting by its Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, the NLC expressed disappointment over what it described as the government delegation’s lack of preparedness for the negotiations.
The statement said organised labour had presented its demands in good faith but secured no concrete commitments from the government.
It listed the demands to include a reduction in petrol prices to 2024 levels, renegotiation of the national minimum wage, implementation of agreed tax relief measures, resolution of the terms of settlement involving the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), and the demands of the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) on peculiar allowances, wage awards and hazard allowances.
According to the NLC, the government delegation lacked the necessary mandates to engage substantively on the issues.
“The meeting between the Federal Government and organised labour, convened at the Ministry of Labour in Abuja on 22nd October 2026, has ended without resolution,” the statement said.
It added that the Minister of Labour requested an adjournment until October 27 to enable the government to make adequate preparations for a more productive meeting, including bringing together relevant ministers and heads of departments and agencies.
The NLC said it remained committed to dialogue but would not accept indefinite delays in addressing workers’ demands.
“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,” it said.
The congress urged workers and members of the public to remain calm, while calling on its affiliates, state councils and civil society allies to prepare for possible industrial action.
“However, we urge all affiliates of NLC and TUC; all state councils and our civil society allies to be alert and start mobilising for a possible action across the nation while we hope that the tenets of our demands are met by the government,” the statement added.
The October 27 meeting is expected to provide another opportunity for the two sides to address the unresolved demands and avert an escalation of industrial tensions.
Although the NLC said it remained committed to negotiations, its mobilisation directive signals the possibility of a wider labour dispute if the next round of talks fails to yield meaningful progress.
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