MINIMUM WAGE: Labour set for showdown, threatens strike

Labour unions in Nigeria have announced they will commence a nationwide indefinite strike should the Federal Government fail to meet their demands for the upward review of minimum wage in the country.

The Ayuba Wabba led Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the United Labour Congress (ULC) led by Joe Ajaero, fixed November 6, for the commencement of the strike.

The duo, who stated this at a press conference on Sunday, were aggrieved over government’s stance on the new minimum wage for workers.

The Federal Government had insisted it will only increase the minimum wage from the current N18,000 to N24,000. It argued that no amount was agreed with the labour leaders at a meeting of a tripartite committee also involving the private sector.

But the labour unions, which had initially demanded N50,000 as mimimum wage, said that government had agreed to pay N30,000 during their negotiation.

“It is not true that we proposed N30,000 as the new national minimum wage. It is also not true that the committee did not agree on a figure during its last sitting. We accepted N30,000 as a compromise to demonstrate the willingness of Nigerian workers to make sacrifices towards nation building,” the union leaders said.

Noting that it was necessary for the Organised Private Sector (OPS), as represented in the tripartite committee to speak up on this matter, the union leaders said “Keeping silent in the face of this apparent mischief does our nation no good.”

They added, “At this time the OPS does not have any other choice but to rise to the occasion by telling Nigerians what transpired in the meeting.

“What we are waiting for is for the federal government to immediately set in motion the necessary machinery for turning the agreement into a Bill for onward submission to the NASS where we expect the presidency to work together with the legislators to make it a law so that it can be implemented quickly.”

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According to them, labour unions in Nigeria have not seen any sign of seriousness on the government’s part to resolve workers’ concerns.

They said that Tuesday October 30, 2018 will be “a day of national outrage and mourning which will be used to sensitise Nigerians on our plight and on the issues at stake. This shall take place in all states of the federation including Abuja.”

They said the Joint Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of all the labour centres in Nigeria will hold to receive reports and make final preparations for our ultimate engagement with the federal government on the matter on November 2.

 

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