By Our Correspondent

National News – Local government workers in Borno State, northeast Nigeria, on Friday, May 1, 2026, staged a protest in Maiduguri, the state capital, over the non-implementation of the ₦70,000 minimum wage.

The demonstration, which coincided with International Workers’ Day, was organised by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The workers demanded urgent payment and full compliance with the new wage law, citing economic hardship affecting families and livelihoods across the state.

NLC State Chairman Yusuf Inuwa said the protest reflected worsening living conditions among workers, noting that Nigerian employees remain among the poorest despite wage agreements.

He explained that the street action was chosen to draw attention to delayed implementation and rising inflation affecting transport, food, and basic needs in Maiduguri and surrounding areas.

He added that while primary school teachers and healthcare workers have begun receiving the minimum wage, most local government staff in Borno are yet to be captured in the payment structure.

The unions stressed that “an injury to one is an injury to all,” insisting that workers share the same economic hardship and cannot survive on current salaries without urgent government intervention.

However, state officials earlier attributed the delay to structural challenges.

In July 2025, the Ministry for Local Government and Emirate Affairs said Borno’s 27 LGAs employ about 90,000 workers, creating heavy payroll pressure.

Revenue allocation from the federal government is considered insufficient to sustain full implementation of the ₦70,000 wage.

The protest highlights tension between labour unions and government over wage implementation in Borno State, as workers insist minimum wage approval must translate into immediate payment for all staff without exclusion.