The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned that strict measures will be enforced to ensure that states and employers implement the national minimum wage and the consequential salary adjustments by the end of March.
Mohammed Ibrahim, president of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), made the statement during a one-day National Leadership Retreat held in Abuja on Wednesday.
Ibrahim, who also serves as the NLC’s national internal auditor, expressed concerns about the ongoing delays in the payment of the wage adjustments by certain states and institutions.
He attributed the delays to insincerity on the part of some employers and stated that the union would not tolerate further stalling.
“We are taking stringent measures to ensure that by the end of the first quarter, the national minimum wage and the consequential adjustments will be fully implemented,” Ibrahim said.
“Any state or employer who refuses to comply will face the consequences, as the labour laws are in place, and we have the capacity to enforce our rights.”
Ibrahim also addressed challenges within the union, acknowledging that some members had undermined strike actions, which weakened the overall effectiveness of industrial actions.
He admitted that strikes had become less effective due to government indifference and worker fatigue, but assured that alternative negotiation strategies would be explored, with strikes remaining a last resort.
The SSANU president highlighted the importance of continuous training for university staff and increased funding for tertiary institutions, emphasizing that universities must continue to be centers of innovation and learning, supported by ongoing capacity-building initiatives for their staff.
(Prompt news)