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Varsity teacher tasks NLC, TUC on merits, demerits of strike

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A Prof. of Economics, Prof. Peter Emeka Arinze of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) has said that in as much as Nigerian workers have the fundamental right to go on strike, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) must consider the merits and demerits of such action. He, however, said that they should not threaten or go on strike just to impress the workers they are representing.

Arinze told The Guardian yesterday that in developed countries, it has never been heard that unions threaten or go on national strike because of minimum wage as they know the negative consequences of such action.

According to him, “When the unions go on strike, it would affect the economy negatively; the gains in national strike will be less than the cost of the strike. The only few people that will gain because of national minimum wage are the new entrants to the labour force.

“Other people would be affected negatively because of inflation. For example, when N30, 000 minimum wages is granted because of national strike, the inflation rate will rise by 21 per cent. The gain from the national strike would be neutralised by inflation. Many people would not gain by the increase of minimum wage.

The Guardian, January 21, 2019

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