By Ayomide Otitoju
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed to resist any attempt by the National Assembly to remove labour-related issues — including the national minimum wage — from the Exclusive Legislative List.
NLC President Joe Ajaero issued the warning during a meeting of the Central Working Committee in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Friday.
Describing the proposed constitutional amendment as “an exercise in futility,” Ajaero argued that global labour standards, including those of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), treat minimum wage as a national issue.
He accused lawmakers of plotting to “bastardise” the national wage structure by pushing labour matters to the Concurrent List, where state governments could independently determine wage levels and establish state-level industrial courts.
“If they attempt to smuggle labour into the Concurrent List, we will mobilise workers to protest, even up to election day,” Ajaero warned.
He reaffirmed that no state had officially refused to implement the newly approved ₦70,000 minimum wage and stressed the danger of allowing states to set their own wage floors.
On local government autonomy, Ajaero called for the Supreme Court to clarify its recent ruling to ensure effective enforcement in line with constitutional principles.
