Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened possible nationwide industrial action after negotiations with the Federal Government over petrol prices, workers’ wages and other welfare demands ended without an agreement.
The warning followed a meeting between government representatives and organised labour at the Ministry of Labour in Abuja on Thursday. The NLC has given the Federal Government until Tuesday, October 27, to demonstrate meaningful progress on the outstanding issues, warning that its relevant organs would decide the next course of action if the next round of talks fails to produce concrete commitments.
In a statement issued after the meeting, the NLC’s Acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, expressed disappointment over what the congress described as the government delegation’s lack of preparation and authority to negotiate substantive agreements. According to the statement, organised labour entered the meeting in good faith but left without firm commitments on its demands.
The demands include reducing petrol prices to their 2024 levels, renegotiating the national minimum wage, implementing agreed tax relief measures and resolving the terms of settlement involving the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).
The congress also wants the government to address demands by the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JPSNC) concerning peculiar allowances, wage awards and hazard allowances. “The meeting between the Federal Government and organised labour, convened at the Ministry of Labour in Abuja on 22nd October 2026, has ended without resolution,” the statement said.
The NLC said the Minister of Labour requested an adjournment until October 27 to allow the government to prepare for more substantive negotiations. It said the next meeting should involve relevant ministers and heads of departments and agencies with the authority to address the outstanding demands.
The congress maintained that it remained committed to dialogue but would not accept indefinite delays in resolving issues affecting workers’ welfare. “We will report back to our organs, and if no meaningful progress is made on Tuesday, the relevant organs of the NLC will decide the next line of action,” it said.
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Korede Abdullah 
