The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has issued a strong warning to the National Assembly over any attempt to move labour-related issues, including the national minimum wage, from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent List in the Nigerian Constitution.
If the proposed amendment succeeds, individual states would gain the power to independently determine their minimum wages and labour policies — a shift the NLC adamantly opposes.
Describing the proposal as “an exercise in futility,” Ajaero said it contradicts international labour standards, particularly conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), which treat labour matters as a national responsibility.
He accused lawmakers of trying to “bastardise” the existing national labour structure, warning that the decentralisation plan — including the creation of state-level industrial courts — would undermine protections for Nigerian workers and violate global standards.
Ajaero also challenged lawmakers to subject their own salaries to state control if they insist on pushing labour matters to the Concurrent List.
“If they attempt to smuggle labour issues into the Concurrent List, we will mobilise Nigerian workers in protest — even on election day,” he vowed.
Speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting, the labour leader reaffirmed the NLC’s readiness to defend national labour standards and urged lawmakers to respect international norms.
He noted that while the law mandates a minimum wage of ₦70,000, states are free to pay above it — and many already do.
Ajaero warned that decentralising wage decisions could worsen worker welfare in less economically viable states.
He added that the NLC is unaware of any state currently refusing to implement the newly approved minimum wage.
On a related issue, Ajaero also called for full enforcement of local government autonomy, urging stakeholders to seek Supreme Court clarification to ensure compliance with constitutional provisions.