Amid the looming nationwide strike by state workers across Nigeria over the refusal of some states to implement the ₦70,000 minimum wage, the Ondo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced the state government’s readiness to enforce the minimum wage in the November salary.
The assurance was made by the acting chairman of the NLC, Mr. Ademola Olapade, on Sunday in Akure.
This announcement was made to prevent Ondo workers from embarking on a strike like other states, noting that the minimum wage will be implemented in the first week of December, reflecting November salaries.
Investors King gathered that during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the proposed strike over the delay in implementing the new minimum wage, the Ondo State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) reaffirmed the union’s commitment to ensuring that workers receive fair pay.
Olapade emphasized that the union would not hesitate to join the nationwide strike if the state government fails to honor its obligations, stating that the welfare of workers remains a top priority.
Before the announcement of the implementation of the minimum wage, the national leadership of the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had proposed to commence a national strike by December 1 due to the delay in the implementation of the minimum wage.
However, Olapade emphasized that the meeting with the state government had yielded a positive response, as the government has agreed to implement the minimum wage in the November salary.
“We are not going to join the strike in Ondo State because, on our side, we have concluded arrangements with the state government,” he said.
“The payment was supposed to commence last week but was delayed due to a sliding error, which has now been corrected,” he added.
“So, by the grace of God, workers in Ondo State, including local government workers, will start receiving their November salary with the minimum wage by next week,” Olapade concluded.
