In an effort to halt the ongoing strike by organised labour, the Federal Government, through the National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission, has invited the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) for discussions. However, it remains uncertain whether the labour leaders will attend the meeting.
Reports indicate that some
unions have closed their workplaces in compliance with the directive from the
NLC and TUC to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.
On Friday, organised labour
announced that they would commence a nationwide indefinite strike due to the
Federal Government's refusal to increase the proposed minimum wage from
₦60,000. According to the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, the strike will
begin at midnight on Sunday, June 2, 2024.
In a joint statement, Ajaero
and his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo, expressed serious concerns and
disappointment over the Federal Government’s failure to finalise and pass a new
National Minimum Wage Act into law. They also demanded the government reverse
the increase in electricity tariff to ₦65/kWh.
The unions had previously given
a deadline of May 31, 2024, for negotiations on the new minimum wage. However,
talks between organised labour and the Federal Government broke down on Tuesday
after both parties presented their offers.
The government increased its
initial offer of ₦57,000 by adding ₦3,000 to make it ₦60,000, but this proposal
was rejected by labour. During the negotiations, labour also revised their
demand, lowering it from the previous week's proposal of ₦497,000 by ₦3,000,
reducing their new proposal to ₦494,000.
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