The organized labour unions in Kaduna State have commenced a one-week warning strike, following directives from the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).
The strike is in protest against the alleged non-implementation of the consequential adjustments to the national minimum wage.
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Confirming the industrial action, Kaduna State NLC Chairman, Comrade Ayuba Suleiman, stated, “We have embarked on a warning strike as instructed by our national leaders over non-implementation of the minimum wage.”
However, the Kaduna State Government has countered the claim, asserting that it has fully implemented the national minimum wage. Governor Uba Sani’s Chief Press Secretary, Malam Ibraheem Musa, described the strike as “grossly unfair,” emphasizing that the least-paid worker in the state earned a gross salary of N72,000 in November.
“NLC is harping on the issue of consequential adjustment, but the labour body should realize that there is a difference between salary increment and minimum wage,” Musa stated.
Musa outlined the state’s financial constraints, explaining that Kaduna receives an average of N12 billion monthly from federal allocations and internally generated revenue (IGR). Of this, N6.3 billion goes toward the wage bill following the minimum wage implementation, while N4 billion is deducted for loan repayment.
“This leaves only N2 billion for rural transformation, healthcare, education, and other developmental projects. It is unreasonable for the government to spend over 90% of its revenue on just about 1% of the population, which consists of 84,827 civil servants,” he added.
Labour leaders, however, argue that the implementation of the N72,000 minimum wage without the agreed consequential adjustments falls short of expectations. The NLC and TUC insist that the state government must address the salary tables to reflect negotiated increments for higher-grade workers.
Comrade Suleiman confirmed that a meeting was held with government representatives but stated that no agreement was reached. The TUC also criticized the state government for unilaterally implementing the minimum wage without following through on the consequential adjustments.
Despite the disagreement, Musa highlighted Governor Sani’s labour-friendly policies, such as providing buses for civil servants to ease commuting challenges. He called on the unions to exercise patience, stating that the adjustments would be revisited once the state’s revenue improves.
Labour unions, however, remain resolute, maintaining that their demands for fair adjustments must be addressed to ensure equity in the implementation of the national minimum wage law.
