The organized labour unions, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), have firmly rejected the Federal Government’s proposed N62,000 minimum wage for workers.

Speaking on Channels TV’s Morning Brief on Monday, Chris Onyeka, Assistant General Secretary of the NLC, stated that the union refuses to negotiate a “starvation wage.”

“If the Federal Government and National Assembly fail to act on our demands by Tuesday, the NLC and TUC will convene to decide whether to resume the nationwide industrial action that was suspended last week,” Onyeka declared.

“Our stance is clear: we have never considered accepting N62,000 or any other wage insufficient for Nigerian workers. We will not negotiate a starvation wage,” Onyeka continued. “We have not even contemplated N100,000, let alone N62,000. Our demand remains at N250,000, which we consider a reasonable concession to the government and other social partners, given the current market realities—the cost of daily essentials like rice, yam, and garri.”

Onyeka emphasized that the onus is now on the Federal Government and National Assembly to address their demands. “Our demand is for the government to present an executive bill to the National Assembly, which should then enact a national minimum wage law that meets our requirements,” he said. “If our demands are not met, we have given the government a one-week notice, expiring tomorrow. Should there be no tangible response by then, the organized labour will decide on the next course of action.”

He clarified that the suspension of the strike was conditional. “We paused the nationwide indefinite strike, but if our governing bodies decide to lift the pause, we will resume the strike,” Onyeka explained.

Last week, the labour unions called off the strike after the Federal Government appealed for negotiations following a nationwide strike on Monday that disrupted the country.