NEW MINIMUM WAGE: NLC enforces strike action in Delta, shuts schools, offices

Nigeria Labour Congress on Wednesday enforced its strike action in order to press home their demands from the Federal Government.

Ripples Nigeria gathered that members of Delta state chapter of the congress were allegedly noticed going about to shut offices and schools in Asaba ahead of the planned strike, over delay in implementation of the new minimum wage.

It was learnt that NLC members were also seen patrolling Asaba in a marked Hiace mini-bus, closing government offices and turning back school children.

Recall that the organized labour had threatened to commence industrial action on Thursday if the Federal Government fails to meet its demand on the consequential adjustment.

Before the Tuesday meeting with the Federal Government, labour was demanding 29 per cent increase for officers on grade levels 07 to 14 and 24 per cent adjustment for officers on grade levels 15 to 17.

While the Federal Government proposed an 11 per cent increase for officers at grade level 07 to 14 and 6.5 per cent adjustment for workers at grade level 15 to 17.

The Delta State chairman of NLC, Mr Goodluck Ofuburuku, confirmed the development to newsmen.

He said the strike action had already commenced, therefore, members were expected to comply with directives from their national body.

“We are on strike and that is all I can tell you for now. We expect offices and schools to comply.

“The strike is in force that is why we are going round to enforce compliance,” he told newsmen

It was also gathered that the state government secretariat, along Okpanam road was equally shut as some workers who had reported for work were seen milling around the gate.

A civil servant, Mrs. Tina Okolo, said the NLC members locked her office premises and ask the workers to go home.

“They came this morning and ask us to go home. I reported to work at about 8:15am, but now am going home.

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“I don’t know much about the strike, so I am just waiting to see how things will turn out,” Okolo said.

Ripples Nigeria had earlier reported that issues around the implementation of the minimum wage might soon be resolved as both the organized labour and the federal government had shifted grounds on the issue of consequential adjustments.

During the meeting between both parties on Tuesday, the federal government offered to make consequential adjustment for Grade Level 7-14 to 17 per cent from its initial 11 per cent and 12 per cent for Grade Level 15-17 from 6.5 per cent.

The organized labour on its part shifted its position of 29 per cent for consequential movement of GL-7-14 to 25 per cent and 20 per cent for GL15-17 from 25 per cent.

While negotiations had not been finalized, it was suspected that labour would shelve the planned industrial action.

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