ABUJA — The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a fresh four-day deadline to the Federal Government, extending its initial ultimatum to October 27, 2026, for the state to address unresolved demands concerning high petrol prices and minimum wage renegotiations or face nationwide industrial action.
The extension follows an initial dialogue session with federal conciliation officials in Abuja. Following a request by the Minister of Labour and Employment to assemble relevant heads of ministries, departments, and agencies, the NLC agreed to adjust its initial deadline—which was set to expire on October 23—to allow for final talks scheduled for Tuesday, October 27.
NLC spokesperson Benson Upah clarified that while the union agreed to the temporary window, organized labor remains steadfast in its core core demands. Among the non-negotiable conditions submitted by the congress are an immediate rollback of pump prices for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to 2024 levels, the immediate review and renegotiation of the national minimum wage, and full implementation of outstanding agreements with the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and the Joint Public Sector Negotiating Council (JPSNC).
Upah emphasized that labor will not tolerate indefinite delays, warning that state and zonal organs of the congress across all 36 states have been placed on high alert to mobilize for a total economic shutdown should the rescheduled meeting fail to yield concrete commitments.
