FCT Workers Reject January 2025 Minimum Wage Implementation Date

• FCT workers reject the proposal to delay the N70,000 minimum wage implementation until January 2025, demanding its immediate effect by December
• The Nigeria Labour Congress insists on timely wage implementation, declaring an indefinite strike across six area councils in the FCT

Workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have rejected a proposal by the six area council chairmen to delay the implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage until January 2025.

The workers, represented by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), insist that the new wage must take effect before the end of December 2024.

This decision follows an indefinite strike action declared by workers across the six area councils in response to directives from the NLC’s national body regarding the council chairmen’s non-implementation of the minimum wage.

Speaking on the issue, Comrade Stephen Knabayi, the FCT NLC President, confirmed that the union recently met with the area council chairmen.

During the meeting, the chairmen appealed for more time, citing commitments such as unpaid arrears for primary school teachers and other outstanding entitlements.

However, the union firmly rejected the plea. Knabayi stated, “The council chairmen requested an extension to January 2025 to implement the minimum wage due to some financial obligations.

But we insisted it must commence in December 2024. Workers and teachers are enduring severe economic hardship, and we cannot accept further delays.”

He emphasized that the union’s strike action would continue until the demands for timely implementation of the minimum wage are met.

The N70,000 minimum wage, introduced to alleviate the impact of rising living costs, remains a critical issue for workers in the FCT, many of whom have been facing tough economic conditions.