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Minimum wage: We won’t negotiate with Governors, Labour insists

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Organised Labour, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress, has rejected the proposal of the Southern Governors’ Forum to decentralise minimum wage negotiations to state governments.

The NLC condemned the proposal as “unfriendly and anti-worker”, noting that allowing states to determine their minimum wages would be detrimental to workers’ welfare.

Southern Governors’ Forum sought for states to be allowed to negotiate the minimum wage for workers independently. At the end of a meeting held on Monday at the Ogun State Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta, the forum resolved that wages should be reflective of the cost of living.

This was revealed in a communique issued from the meeting and signed by the newly-appointed Chairman of the forum, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; and Vice-Chairman, Prof Charles Soludo of Anambra State.

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The meeting was attended by Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos; Godwin Obaseki of Edo; Hope Uzodinma of Imo; Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti; Duoye Diri of Bayelsa; Ademola Adeleke of Osun; Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom; Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers; and Bassey Otu of Cross River.

Other attendees included Governors Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State; Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo; Peter Mbah of Enugu; Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State; and Alex Otti of Abia State.

“The forum discussed the minimum wage demanded by Labour and unanimously agreed that the minimum wage should be reflective of the cost of living, and that each state should be allowed to negotiate its minimum wage,” the communique stated.

Meanwhile, the Presidency had on Monday appealed to Nigerians not to put unnecessary pressure on the President, assuring them that the Federal Government would transmit the proposed bill on the new minimum wage to the National Assembly once it was ready.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, made the plea in a terse statement on Thursday.

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“People should be patient,” he stated.

While Organised Labour is adamant about its N250,000 minimum wage demand, the state governors said that paying even the N62,000 proposed by the Federal Government would plunge many states into debt.

This was even as President Bola Tinubu demanded more time for consultation on Wednesday.

Labour insists on national minimum wage

Reacting to the proposal of the governors, the National Treasurer of the NLC, Akeem Ambali, in an interview insisted that the governors had no power to negotiate the new minimum wage.

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He added that the governors were compelled by law to implement the new national minimum wage. Ambali advised the governors to stop trying to strong-arm the Federal Government and labour with their request to negotiate with labour individually, and rather focus on how they would implement the national minimum wage when it is approved.

Ambali noted that it was regrettable that labour had to always resort to strike actions to get the government to yield to its demands. He asked the governors make public how much they earn, and subject it to negotiations.

He said, “Traditionally, the minimum wage is a national issue; it is not a sub-national negotiation. That is the essence of the Minimum Wage Act, and the law is clear. Governors don’t have the power to negotiate the minimum wage. What they can only negotiate are other allowances, but the minimum wage is a social protection content, and it is not only applicable to Nigeria.

“My advice for the governors is that they should prepare their balance sheet and look at how to implement the national minimum wage once it is approved. They should not stress themselves with the issue of negotiating with Labour on a state level. After all, we have seen what happened in Zamfara, where they refused to pay the current minimum wage (N30,000) until Labour issued an ultimatum, and they quickly started paying. Some states are still not paying the current minimum wage. We know what happened in Anambra, which is the state of the Vice Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Charles Soludo. When you look at all that, you will realise that some of them (governors) may not have good intentions. In fact, the majority of them are not labour-friendly and they are not pro-workers.”

Ambali further urged President Bola Tinubu to go ahead and recommend the new minimum wage to the National Assembly after consultation with Organised Labour on the agreement.

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“It is a tripartite committee. Two are on the same page, because they are employers, and the two cumulatively amount to one, because they are both employees. It is only the employees that are agitating, because they are the ones that feel the pinch; they know where it hurts. Mr President should concentrate his energy on engaging Labour with realistic data and statistics, which can be obtained from the Federal Bureau of Statistics. How much does it take to feed a family in a month? We should be guided by that. Once we are able to do that and we are sincere about it, the president can then engage labour, and we will resolve this amicably,” he added.

Speaking on the governors who were still defaulting, Ambali said, “While we commend those who are paying the minimum wage, we also condemn those who are not paying, because they are earning their own fantastic salaries. Maybe the option will eventually be to refer salary payment of governors to the minimum wage as well, so we can also put it up for debate by a committee. Once we are able to do that, nobody will have the effrontery to say they want to first negotiate with workers at the governors’ level”

 The labour leader also said it was looking as though the Organised Private Sector was being influenced by the government. He noted that when the negotiations began, the OPS stated that no one earned less than N93,000 in any private establishment. He stated that it was shocking that those same people now wanted to pay less than N70,000. He added, “This is because of the influence of some of the governors, who tried to cajole them to fall in line. The OPS, if left on their own, are ready to pay, so all these arguments that they are bringing up are afterthoughts.”

The NLC further cautioned state governors against exhibiting dictatorial tendencies. The congress noted that it was compelled to address the recent statements made by some governors regarding their desire to pay what they deemed fit to Nigerian workers as the minimum wage.

“This notion is not only dictatorial but also undermines the very essence of having a national minimum wage in Nigeria,” the NLC’s spokesperson, Benson Upah, stated in a statement in Abuja.

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Explaining the concept of a national minimum wage, Upah noted that it was not an arbitrary decision. He said, “It represents a national wage floor; a baseline below which no worker should be paid. This threshold is a collective agreement that ensures a minimum standard of living for every worker. The governors’ demand to unilaterally determine the minimum wage negates this principle and threatens the welfare of Nigerian workers and the national economy.”

Upah stressed that it was important to remind the governors that the national minimum wage was not synonymous with the individual pay structures of the states, which they implement religiously, reflecting their unique financial capabilities and circumstances. He further added that the diversity in pay structures underscored the flexibility that already existed within the system, allowing states to reward their workers in alignment with their financial realities.

“Furthermore, the governors’ argument appears inconsistent when juxtaposed with the remuneration of political office holders. Why is there no hue and cry when political office holders across the nation receive uniform salaries as determined by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission? This double standard, which pits a privileged few against the poor majority, is an issue that should be of concern to those who love this country.”

Caution govs, TUC tells president

Also commenting, the Deputy President of the TUC, Dr Tommy Etim, said Organised Labour would not negotiate with governors. In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, he said, “They are trying to create an unnecessary problem where there is none. I think Mr President should caution them, because pensions and the minimum wage are constitutional issues, and they are under the exclusive legislation.

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“If the national minimum wage is approved today, it is incumbent on them to implement it. They can either negotiate it upwards or stop any negotiation, because it is not within their purview. The issue of the national minimum wage is tripartite in nature, and that is what we have done. Once the president ends the consultation, he will definitely send it to the National Assembly for them to legislate on it, so that it will be returned for the president’s assent.”

He added that no state governor had the right to negotiate the minimum wage downwards. “They can only negotiate it upwards. Labour doesn’t even have the right to negotiate the minimum wage with state governors. It is a tripartite committee for a reason.”

Etim further urged workers to remain resolute and believe in the negotiation, hopeful that the Federal Government would do the needful.

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Police Promotes Over 4,000 Officers, Elevates Two to DIG, 10 to AIG

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The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of thousands of senior police officers, including two Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs), 10 Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs) and 17 Commissioners of Police (CPs).

The promotions followed the successful completion of promotion examinations and oral interviews conducted by the commission.

According to a statement issued on Thursday, the approvals were granted during the commission’s plenary meeting in Abuja, presided over by its Chairman, retired DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu.

The two officers elevated to the rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Police are Olaolu Adegbite, Head of the INTERPOL National Central Bureau, Abuja, and Dankombo F. Morris, who heads Zone 4 Headquarters, Makurdi.

Adegbite holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian Language from the University of Lagos and a Master’s degree in Philology from the Pushkin Institute, Moscow.

A recipient of the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), he is also a member of the FBI National Academy Associates and an alumnus of Harvard Kennedy School. He previously served as Director of Operations at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Morris, an indigene of Gombe State, holds a degree in History from the University of Maiduguri and a Diploma in Police Science. He previously served as Commissioner of Police in Adamawa State.

The 10 officers promoted from Commissioner of Police to Assistant Inspector-General are Omosanyin Olusegun, Ogbodo Ugobueze, Ohagwu Felix Ndukwe, Taylor Lennox Olanrewaju, Regina Cosmas Udoette, Afolabi Wilfred Olutokunbo, Nwogoh Martin, Shetima Jauro Mohammed, Ibrahim D. Gotan and Danjuma I. Yahaya.

The commission also approved the elevation of 17 Deputy Commissioners of Police to the rank of Commissioner of Police.

They include Nache Bashir Liman, Sirajo Lawal Salihu, Ayeleye Adegboyega, Isiaka O. Salau, Usman Shaik Adamu, Aminu Maiwada Garba, Abdulkarim Musa Waziri, Muhammad Yusuf Adamu, Sani Adamu Nufawa, Bello M. Adamu, Okezie Chikezie, Aminu Usman Gusau, Abiodun Onuoha, Salisu Bello Fago, Adegoke A. Alani, Wuwa Auwal Muhammad and Benedict U. Agbo.

In another round of promotions, 85 Assistant Commissioners of Police were elevated to Deputy Commissioners of Police.

Among the beneficiaries are Dr Ruth Oyinmearelu Okunbo, Medical Director of MD Abubakar Police Hospital, Deidei, and ASR Police Reference Hospital, Utako, Abuja; Isah Adejoh of the Police Staff College, Jos; and Mannir Yusuf Gafai of the Kano State Command.

Similarly, 49 Chief Superintendents of Police were promoted to Assistant Commissioners of Police, while 245 Superintendents of Police advanced to Chief Superintendents.

Notable among those elevated to CSP are Josephine Adeh, Police Public Relations Officer of the Federal Capital Territory Command, and Suleiman Yahaya Nguroje, spokesperson of the Adamawa State Police Command.

Other beneficiaries include Abah James of Rivers State Command, Okere Romanus of Isiowulu Division in Anambra State, Ugochukwu Ozoude Alex of Zone 9, Umuahia, Vincent Elekwa of Rivers State Command, Umar Sani of FCT Command and Mustapha Mohammed.

The PSC further approved the promotion of 498 Deputy Superintendents of Police to Superintendents of Police, including Isa Osu of the Border Patrol Force Headquarters, Abuja; Samaila Amadu Bangajiya of the 12 Police Mobile Force Squadron, Minna; and Akadu Godwin of the Tactical Intelligence Unit, Force Headquarters.

Another 3,218 Assistant Superintendents of Police were elevated to Deputy Superintendents.

Among them are Frank Okafor, former Chief Security Officer of Jaiz Bank and Intelligence Coordinator at Government House, Uyo; Samson Sule, Chief Security Officer to the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund; Ibrahim Abuh of Force Headquarters; Dauda Yusuf Olatunji; Sarauta Mohammed Mohammed; and Yusuf Mukarram Ado of the Airport Police Command, Ikeja.

Congratulating the newly promoted officers, Argungu charged them to see their elevation as a call to greater responsibility, professionalism and dedication to duty.

He urged them to redouble their commitment to protecting lives and property, maintaining public order and enforcing the law.

The PSC chairman stressed that Nigerians expected improved performance, discipline and accountability from officers entrusted with higher responsibilities.

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NSCDC Suspends Officer Over Market Shooting, Orders Disciplinary Trial

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has suspended Deputy Superintendent of Corps (DSC) Onoja Babayo Samuel over his alleged involvement in a shooting incident at Kubwa Market, Abuja, on October 25, 2026.
The Corps has also ordered an Orderly Room Trial and referred the officer to its disciplinary committee to determine his level of culpability.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, the NSCDC disclosed that Samuel was arrested by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command after allegedly firing gunshots into the air during a confrontation with traders at the market.
The Corps described the alleged conduct as a gross violation of its rules of engagement and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), particularly those regulating the use of firearms.
Consequently, the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Prof. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, directed the officer’s immediate suspension pending the conclusion of investigations and disciplinary proceedings.
Following the directive, Samuel has been relieved of all official duties and stripped of his responsibilities until the disciplinary process is concluded.
According to the statement, the disciplinary committee at the Corps’ National Headquarters in Abuja will examine the circumstances surrounding the incident alongside the Orderly Room Trial.
The NSCDC assured the public that the outcome of the proceedings would be made known upon conclusion.
Reaffirming his administration’s zero tolerance for professional misconduct and the misuse of firearms, Audi warned that no officer found culpable of violating operational guidelines would be shielded from appropriate sanctions.
He reiterated the Corps’ commitment to protecting lives, maintaining professionalism and ensuring public safety, stressing that personnel must conduct themselves within established operational procedures at all times.

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C’Riiver Speaker Ayambem Opens 2027 Budget Retreat, Pledges Thorough Scrutiny of Appropriation Bill

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The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, has opened the 2027 Budget Retreat in Obudu, pledging a thorough legislative review of the proposed budget to ensure prudent resource allocation and effective service delivery.

The retreat, themed “Consolidation and Renewed Hope,” is being held at Centurion Hotel, Obudu.

Ayambem said the retreat would enable lawmakers to critically examine the 2027 Appropriation Bill, assess government spending priorities and ensure that proposed expenditures reflect the needs and aspirations of the people.

He identified agriculture, healthcare, education, infrastructure and human capital development as key sectors requiring adequate attention in the budget.

The Speaker reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to a comprehensive and timely review of the budget estimates, emphasising the need for fiscal responsibility, transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.

He commended Governor Bassey Otu for maintaining a constructive relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government, noting that cooperation between both institutions was essential for effective governance.

Ayambem described the annual budget retreat, sustained by the 10th Assembly for four consecutive years, as evidence of the legislature’s commitment to strengthening budgetary oversight and improving its engagement with the state’s fiscal plans.

He expressed optimism that the deliberations would produce a responsive and people-centred budget that advances the gains of Governor Otu’s People First Administration, promotes sustainable development and translates government policies into tangible improvements in the lives of Cross River residents.

Matthew Okache
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker
October 28, 2026

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TUC Rejects Tinubu’s N70,000 Transport Allowance

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The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has rejected the Federal Government’s proposed N70,000 transport allowance for workers, demanding an immediate upward review of salaries to N300,000 for the lowest-paid federal employee.
The labour union insisted that temporary financial interventions could no longer address the worsening economic hardship confronting Nigerian workers, particularly amid rising inflation and the increasing cost of essential goods and services.
In a statement jointly signed by its President-General, Comrade Festus Osifo, and Secretary-General, Comrade N. A. Toro, the TUC maintained that the Federal Government must prioritise a substantial salary increase rather than rely on transport allowances as a short-term relief measure.
The congress disclosed that it had formally communicated its position to the government in a letter dated October 8, 2026, following deliberations at its National Administrative Council meeting in Abuja.
It explained that subsequent discussions with government representatives, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, had failed to produce a satisfactory resolution.
According to the TUC, there is no legal restriction preventing the government from increasing workers’ salaries ahead of negotiations for a new national minimum wage.
It consequently proposed raising the earnings of the lowest-paid federal worker from N70,000 to N300,000, with corresponding adjustments across other salary grades.
The union cited several state governments that had already increased their minimum wages beyond N100,000, arguing that the Federal Government had no justification for delaying an upward salary review.
“Negotiations of a new national minimum wage must not become an excuse for postponing urgent pay increment,” the congress declared.
The TUC also expressed dissatisfaction over what it described as the government’s failure to fully implement the N40,000 wage award agreed upon with organised labour on October 2, 2023.
It alleged that while some workers had experienced payment delays of between one and two months, others had yet to receive the award.
The congress further claimed that more than 80 per cent of states, as well as the informal sector, had not implemented any form of wage award.
Beyond salary adjustments, the labour organisation urged governments at all levels to introduce sustainable measures aimed at reducing living costs, guaranteeing prompt payment of salaries and pensions, protecting jobs and eliminating exploitative labour practices.
It equally called for renewed investment in the productive sector to stimulate employment and improve the economic conditions of Nigerian workers.
TUC Demands Implementation of JOHESU Agreement
Meanwhile, the congress has accused the Federal Government of reneging on its agreement with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), seven months after the unions suspended their industrial action.
The TUC recalled that the agreement was reached during a conciliation meeting convened by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi, alongside other senior government officials.
It explained that the agreement provided for the resolution of outstanding issues concerning adjustments to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
However, the congress lamented that the government had failed to implement the agreement despite JOHESU suspending its strike in good faith.
Describing the development as a breach of trust and a threat to collective bargaining, the TUC demanded immediate implementation of the agreement, adequate budgetary provisions, a definite implementation timetable and meaningful engagement with the affected unions.
“While the workers have kept their side of the bargain, the government hasn’t kept its side of the agreement,” the statement noted.
The congress warned that health workers could not be expected to continue delivering essential services indefinitely while the government failed to honour its commitments.
It pledged solidarity with JOHESU and vowed to explore all lawful and legitimate options to compel compliance.
The TUC, however, disclosed that it would await the outcome of a scheduled meeting with government representatives before deciding on further action.
It reiterated that the welfare of Nigerian workers must remain a priority, stressing that agreements freely entered into between the government and organised labour must be respected and implemented.
Clarify N70,000 allowance versus salary
Tighten the repeated TUC attribution
Strengthen the transition to JOHESU

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Governor’s Convoy Kills Five in Auto Crash

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Five persons, including four male students and a young woman, have reportedly lost their lives in a fatal road accident involving a vehicle in the convoy of Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, in Minna, the state capital.

The tragic incident occurred on Monday at Gidan Mangoro community along the Minna–Bida Road when a Hilux van attached to the governor’s convoy reportedly collided head-on with a private Peugeot 206 car.
The female victim, identified as Mrs Nafisa, was reportedly driving the Peugeot when the accident occurred. She was said to be a Programme Manager at Labspace, an NGO, and founder of Wosh Mart Service Ltd.
According to Vanguard, an eyewitness and resident of Gidan Mangoro, Abdullahi Musa, said the accident happened at approximately 11:35 a.m. while the governor and his entourage were returning from Bida.
Bago had reportedly visited the Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, to commiserate with him over the death of Sagi Nupe, Hajia Aisha.
Musa alleged that the accident resulted from wrongful overtaking by the Hilux driver, claiming that the government vehicle veered into the lane of the oncoming Peugeot.
“The accident was caused by wrongful overtaking by the Hilux in the governor’s convoy. The other car was in its lane when the Hilux rammed into it,” he said.
The four male occupants of the Peugeot were suspected to be postgraduate students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.
A staff member of Minna General Hospital, where the victims were evacuated, disclosed that three persons died at the scene, while two others later succumbed to their injuries.
Some of the injured victims were subsequently transferred to the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Specialist Hospital for further medical attention.
A former local government chairman in Niger State, who was reportedly travelling in the Hilux, also sustained fractures to his legs but was said to be alive as of the time of the report.
Confirming the incident, the Niger State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Aishat Sa’adu, said personnel of the agency arrived at the accident scene after the victims had already been evacuated.
Similarly, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Command, SP Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the crash, stating that investigations had commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
“The accident occurred this morning and we are investigating it,” Abiodun said.
The police, however, did not immediately release the identities of the deceased or officially confirm the casualty figure.
Clarify the confirmed casualty figure
Remove repeated accident attribution
Use more cautious identification language

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