The organised labour has issued a stern warning, indicating its readiness to reconvene and possibly resume the suspended strike if the Federal Government and National Assembly fail to meet its demands regarding the proposed minimum wage by midnight on Tuesday.
In an interview on Channels Television’s ‘The Morning Brief’ show on Monday, Chris Onyeka, Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), emphasized the urgency of the situation as the one-week ultimatum given by labour to the federal government draws to a close.
After suspending the strike for one week to facilitate negotiations with the government, Nigerian workers, represented by the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), are now facing a critical juncture. The deadline for the government to meet their demands is looming, and the fate of the proposed minimum wage hangs in the balance.
During the last meeting of the Tripartite Committee on New Minimum Wage on Friday in Abuja, labour revised its demand to N250,000 from the initial N494,000, while the federal government increased its offer from N60,000 to N62,000. However, the government’s representatives indicated that they would need to present the figure to President Bola Tinubu for further deliberation.
Mr Onyeka reiterated that the strike may be reinstated if the leadership of organised labour deems it necessary, especially in light of the new government proposal of N62,000.
He stressed that the government must review its offer, send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly, and enact a National Minimum Wage Act that meets the expectations of Nigerian workers.
Labour remains resolute in its stance against what it deems as “starvation wages,” such as N62,000 or N100,000.
Mr Onyeka reaffirmed that the demand stands at N250,000, emphasizing that it is a reasonable concession considering the economic realities and the cost of essential goods in the country.
The ongoing negotiations between organised labour and the tripartite committee have hit a stumbling block, primarily due to the government’s proposal of N62,000, which labour considers inadequate.
President Tinubu’s directive to the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to present a new minimum wage template underscores the gravity of the situation.
The backdrop of this standoff traces back to the missed deadline of 31 May for finalizing negotiations on the minimum wage, leading to the declaration of a nationwide strike by the NLC and TUC.
The unions cited the failure to conclude the minimum wage negotiation, reversal of electricity tariff hikes, and discontinuation of consumer categorization as key grievances.
As the clock ticks towards the midnight deadline, the fate of millions of Nigerian workers hangs in the balance, awaiting decisive action from both the government and organised labour.