The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, have threatened possible nationwide industrial action following a meeting with the Federal Government that ended without an agreement on workers’ demands.
The two labour centres warned that they would consider their next line of action if meaningful progress was not made at a follow-up meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
They have also directed their affiliate unions and state councils to prepare for possible industrial action while negotiations continue.
The warning followed a meeting held at the Federal Ministry of Labour in Abuja, where organised labour and government representatives discussed issues affecting workers across the country.
Among the demands presented by the unions are a reduction in petrol prices to levels recorded in 2024, renegotiation of the national minimum wage, implementation of agreed tax relief measures and resolution of outstanding disputes involving public servants and health workers.
However, the unions expressed disappointment that the government delegation lacked the authority to make firm decisions on the issues discussed.
In a joint statement signed by NLC General Secretary, Benson Upah, and TUC Secretary-General, Nuhu Toro, the unions said no concrete commitments were secured and the outstanding issues remained unresolved.
The Minister of Labour subsequently requested that the meeting be adjourned until October 27 to allow the government to prepare adequately and ensure that relevant ministers and heads of departments and agencies attend with the authority to negotiate.
Organised labour accepted the adjournment but warned that workers would not tolerate repeated delays without tangible results.
The unions said the outcome of the next meeting would determine whether negotiations could resolve the dispute or whether stronger measures would be considered.
They added that their respective decision-making organs would determine the next line of action if the government failed to make meaningful progress.
The NLC and TUC have not announced a definite date for a strike, stressing that any decision would depend on the outcome of the next meeting.
The unions also appealed to workers and members of the public to remain calm while expressing their willingness to continue engaging with the government.
The dispute comes amid persistent concerns over the rising cost of living, transportation, food prices and other essential expenses facing Nigerian workers.
Organised labour maintains that petrol prices have significantly affected transportation costs and the distribution of goods, contributing to financial pressure on households.
The unions are also seeking a renegotiation of the national minimum wage, which was increased from thirty thousand naira to seventy thousand naira under the National Minimum Wage Act of 2024.
Despite the increase, labour leaders have continued to express concern about workers’ purchasing power amid rising living expenses.
Other outstanding issues include the implementation of agreed tax relief measures and the resolution of disputes involving the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, JPSNC, and the Joint Health Sector Unions, JOHESU.
The disputes include demands relating to peculiar allowances, wage awards, hazard allowances and other conditions of service affecting public-sector employees.
The NLC and TUC insist that the government must honour previous agreements and address the outstanding issues to prevent a breakdown in negotiations.
