The Organised Labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) may begin a nationwide strike from Monday, June 3, following the Federal Government’s failure to meet its new minimum wage demand.
This is against the backdrop of the tripartite committee that reconvened on Friday, after an abrupt adjournment due to labour’s walkout of last Tuesday’s meeting, where it had accused government negotiators of insincerity in the negotiation process.
D’Gallery gathered that the state governors are reportedly ganging up against the Federal Government to frustrate the ongoing negotiation.
On Tuesday, Labour’s negotiating team had walked out of the committee meeting after the Federal Government increased its offer marginally to N60,000 from the N57,000 it offered on Wednesday, May 22.
On May 15, the team also walked out of the tripartite committee meeting after the government offered N48,000 and Organised Private Sector, OPS, offered N54,000, against its (Labour) N615,000 demand.
A Labour leader who preferred anonymity said yesterday:
“The outcome of tomorrow’s (today) will determine our next line of action. If the meeting comes out fruitful, better for everyone. But should government’s team continue with its carefree attitude and disdain for workers’ welfare, nothing will stop us from going on strike from Monday. We are already mobilizing for the strike.”
“Everyone knows that the one-month ultimatum we gave to the government to conclude negotiations on the new national minimum wage ends tomorrow (Friday). We have been patient amid the hardship and mass suffering inflicted on us by the government’s anti-poor policies.
“Besides that, the issue of the minimum wage is statutory. The old Minimum Wage Act ceased to exist since April 18. We had more than six months, at least, to work on a new minimum wage.
“But the government has not been serious with issues affecting workers. Well, Nigerians can bear us witness that we have been patient with this government. If the government knows what is good for it, let its negotiators come up with something reasonable to meet workers’ expectations, otherwise, strike will be inevitable from Monday.”
