The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is putting pressure on public sector unions to step up their efforts in securing long-overdue wage arrears for federal workers—and they’re demanding answers, fast.
In a strongly worded letter signed by NLC President Joe Ajaero and sent on Monday, the union umbrella body asked all public sector unions to provide detailed updates on what actions they’ve taken to claim the remaining arrears of a wage award agreed upon with the Federal Government last year.
This wage award, introduced in 2023, was meant to serve as a temporary relief package to cushion the blow of economic reforms that have caused prices to skyrocket nationwide. At the time, organised labour threatened mass strikes, forcing the government to offer a series of monthly payments to federal workers as a short-term solution. But while five months were paid out, many federal employees are still waiting for the rest.
The tone of the NLC’s letter signals growing impatience.
“We are at a critical juncture,” Ajaero wrote. “We need to push for a stronger collective action with unified voices.”
He called on unions to escalate pressure on the government, warning that if nothing changes, organised labour will have no choice but to act.
“Kindly make this available to the national secretariat of Congress on or before the last day of this month,” the letter read, referring to union reports on efforts made so far. “This will guide our actions towards a swift resolution.”
The NLC is clearly preparing for the next step, which could mean anything from renewed negotiations to protests—or even another nationwide strike.
Ajaero reminded the unions that the Congress had been engaging government agencies behind the scenes to push for the release of the outstanding wage award. But with progress stalling, he believes it’s time to reignite labour’s collective energy.
“We must all work together to compel compliance if the Federal Government fails to meet this demand,” the letter warned.
This latest development adds to a growing list of grievances from organised labour, including delayed minimum wage negotiations and rising inflation. The NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have both made it clear that they expect more from the current administration in terms of workers’ welfare and fair compensation.
The government’s delay in fulfilling wage commitments is not just an administrative lapse, Ajaero argued—it’s a betrayal of trust, especially during times of national hardship. And with inflation driving up the cost of everything from food to transport, the withheld arrears are becoming a flashpoint for worker frustration.
The ball is now in the court of the unions to report back to the NLC and, possibly, prepare for what could be another wave of industrial action if their demands continue to be ignored.
