The Nigeria Labour Congress has issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to reduce the pump price of petrol, begin negotiations for a new national minimum wage and implement outstanding agreements reached with organised labour.
The ultimatum was contained in a communiqué issued after a joint meeting of the NLC’s National Executive Council and Central Working Committee in Abuja and signed by the union’s President, Joe Ajaero. The deadline takes effect from Friday, October 9, 2026.
The labour centre said the government must bring down the price of Premium Motor Spirit to the level that prevailed when the N70,000 minimum wage was approved in 2024, arguing that the sharp rise in petrol costs had further weakened workers’ purchasing power.
The NLC also demanded that negotiations for a fresh minimum wage begin before the end of October, stressing that the existing wage had lost substantial value amid the continued increase in the cost of food, transportation, housing, healthcare and education.
Beyond wages and petrol prices, the union called for the implementation of the February 5, 2026, agreement reached with the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals, as well as the resolution of outstanding demands presented by the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council.
It further asked the Federal Government to introduce tax relief and immediate wage awards for workers, describing the measures as necessary to ease the pressure on employees whose earnings have failed to keep pace with the rising cost of living.
The NLC said the government’s planned interventions on petrol prices would not adequately address the hardship unless there was a substantial reduction in the cost of the commodity.
It warned that failure to meet its demands within the stipulated period would lead to further action by the labour movement.
The latest ultimatum came amid fresh measures announced by the Federal Government to contain petrol-price volatility, including a proposed N1,350 per litre ceiling on the commodity’s ex-gantry or landing cost and a 30-day discount at NNPC stations, particularly for public transport operators.
