The Federal Government’s refusal to increase the minimum wage from N60,000, has prompted the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to declare an indefinite nationwide strike.
Confirming the development to, Ben Ukpa, NLC spokesperson, said the planned strike was expected to kick off on June 3.
Said Ukpa: “The strike is because of the government’s refusal to increase the minimum wage and also their refusal to reverse the electricity tariff hike”.
The organised labour had given the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Federal Government an ultimatum of May 31 to reverse the electricity tariff hike.
NERC, on April 3, approved an increase in the electricity tariff for customers in the Band A classification—from N66 to N225 per kwh.
The tariff hike attracted public outcry and calls for its reversal.
The labour unions had also given a May 31 ultimatum for the Federal Government to finalise the new national minimum wage fixing process for workers.
So far, the Federal Government has proposed a minimum wage of N48,000, N54,000, and most recently, N60,000.
The NLC and TUC rejected all proposals, insisting on N615,500, which they demanded citing the high cost of living.
In a statement announcing the industrial action on Friday, the labour unions said it was disheartening that the government had neglected its responsibility to the workforce despite repeated calls and warnings.
Read the statenent: “In light of this persistent inaction, we, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), hereby issue a notice of commencement of an indefinite nationwide strike to the Federal Government.
“We reiterate that since the national minimum wage negotiation exercise has not been concluded and the agreed wage passed into law, the hike in electricity tariff not reversed and categorisation of consumers into Bands not stopped as demanded; Nigerian workers are compelled by these failures to embark on an indefinite nationwide industrial action beginning on Monday, the 3rd of June, 2024 to press home our demands.
“The NLC and TUC are united in this cause, and we call on all our affiliates and state Councils, Civil Society Organisations, market men and women and the general populace to prepare for a decisive action. We cannot and will not accept any further delays or excuses”.
The TUC president, Festus Osifo, during a joint press conference with NLC in Abuja on Friday, expressed surprise that there was no serious representation at the meeting from the Federal Government, and the state governors who were supposed to be part of the negotiations.
Said he: “As you are aware, we had the last meeting preceding today, which was on Tuesday. In that meeting, they (the government) offered N60,000. They invited us for a meeting today (Friday), and we deliberated on it, thinking they were showing the necessary commitment.
“To our surprise, there was no serious representation from either the Federal Government or the state governors who are supposed to be part of the negotiations.
“So, technically, we felt they have abandoned us because they remained adamant about the N60,000 offer. Not even a kobo was added to what we rightfully rejected”.
