The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress have directed their affiliates and state councils to prepare for possible nationwide industrial action if the Federal Government fails to make meaningful progress on six outstanding workers’ demands at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
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The warning followed Thursday’s meeting between organised labour and representatives of the Federal Government at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja, which ended without a resolution.
Labour said the government delegation was unable to make concrete commitments on the issues because key officials with the authority to take binding decisions were absent.
The development came after the expiration on October 22 of a two-week ultimatum issued by the NLC on October 9 over workers’ welfare and the rising cost of living.
Rather than immediately commencing industrial action following the expiration of the ultimatum, organised labour agreed to reconvene with the government on October 27, giving the authorities another opportunity to address the outstanding issues.
The unions, however, warned that their relevant organs would determine the next course of action if the meeting failed to produce meaningful progress.
Among the senior government officials labour wants at Tuesday’s meeting are the Minister of Finance, the Accountant-General of the Federation, the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation and the Chairman of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission.
The meeting is expected to take place at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja at noon.
At the centre of the dispute are six major demands concerning petrol prices, the national minimum wage, tax relief, outstanding wage awards, health-sector agreements and allowances owed to public-sector workers.
Organised labour is demanding that the Federal Government take measures to reduce petrol prices nationwide to levels prevailing when the current ₦70,000 national minimum wage was signed into law in 2024.
The unions argue that the increase in fuel prices since then has eroded workers’ purchasing power and increased transportation, food and other living costs.
Labour is also demanding the commencement of negotiations for a new national minimum wage and wants steps taken towards establishing a tripartite negotiating committee comprising representatives of the government, employers and organised labour.
The unions are further demanding the implementation of previously agreed tax relief measures intended to reduce the financial burden on workers.
Another outstanding issue is the payment of wage awards and related entitlements which organised labour says remain unpaid to some workers.
The NLC and TUC are also seeking the implementation of the terms of settlement reached with the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Healthcare Professionals on February 5, 2026.
In addition, organised labour wants outstanding demands affecting public-sector workers resolved, particularly issues raised by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council concerning peculiar allowances and hazard allowances.
Labour said Thursday’s meeting failed to resolve the issues because the government representatives were not sufficiently empowered to make substantive commitments.
Consequently, the Minister of Labour requested that the meeting be adjourned until October 27 to allow the government to assemble the relevant ministers and heads of agencies required for substantive negotiations.
Organised labour maintained that although it remained committed to dialogue, it would not accept an indefinite delay in resolving workers’ grievances.
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