Strike Looms: FG Begs for Time as Labour Unions Take Stand on Minimum Wage

FG begs for patience as organized labour launches an indefinite walkout over the minimum wage on Monday.

The Federal Government has begged the Organized Labour to rethink its plan to begin an indefinite walkout on Monday, June 3, 2024, in protest of the government's failure to increase the suggested minimum salary from N60,000.

According to the Federal Government, organized labour's main priority should be the welfare of the general populace.

Idris Mohammed, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, issued the appeal on behalf of the Federal Government on Saturday, June 1.

“The government is pleading with Labour to reconsider its position. The FG has already made an offer of N60,000, and whatever the government does is in the interest of Nigerians.

“We won't like to do something that will throw the country into another problem.

“Even as we do that, we are pleading with Labour. They are partners in this project called ‘Nigeria’ and we expect them to join hands with the FG as it strives to look for solutions that will take Nigeria to the desired prosperity.”

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, declared that the indefinite strike would start on Monday at midnight.

The National Labour Congress (NLC) leader conveyed his profound dissatisfaction and great concern over the Federal Government's inability to approve and implement a new National Minimum Wage Act, as well as to reverse the raise in the energy rate to N65/kWh, in a speech co-written with his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo.

Ajaero emphasized that the Federal Government's meeting with organized labour on Friday, May 31, demonstrated the Nigerian state's apparent indifference to and lack of seriousness toward the demands of the country's workers and citizens.

He declared: “No governor was present and ministers were absent, except the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, who doubles as a conciliator.

“There was none present on the side of the government with appropriate authority to commit them to any outcome. In essence, the government abandoned the meeting.

“We consider this disdainful and shows a lack of commitment to a successful National Minimum Wage negotiation exercise.”

Mohammed emphasized that industrial action was not the answer to the ongoing negotiations for a new minimum wage for workers, even as he acknowledged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) as partners in Project Nigeria.

This announcement comes soon after Organized Labour announced that it would go on a statewide strike, beginning on Monday, June 3, 2024, in protest of the Federal Government's unwillingness to increase the planned minimum wage from N60,000.

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, declared that the indefinite strike would start on Monday at midnight.

The head of the NLC voiced great concern and dissatisfaction over the Federal Government's inability to complete and implement a new National Minimum Wage Act in a speech that was co-written with his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo.

“There was none present on the side of the government with appropriate authority to commit them to any outcome. In essence, the government abandoned the meeting.

“We consider this disdainful and shows a lack of commitment to a successful National Minimum Wage negotiation exercise.”

Ajaero also emphasized the fact that Organized Labor gave the Federal Government a deadline to conclude the minimum wage bargaining process by the end of the month, during the recent May Day celebration.

“However, there has been no significant progress or commitment from the government towards meeting this demand.

“We also demanded a reversal of the last hike in electricity tariff from N225/kWh back to N65/kWh, and stoppage of the apartheid categorisation of consumers into bands.

“We carried out a nationwide one-day protest on May 13, 2024, giving the government until the last day of this month to take action; but the government has not entirely shown any positive response, despite the national outrage at the insensitive hike.

“Nigerian workers, who are the backbone of our nation's economy, deserve fair and decent wages that reflect the current economic realities,” Ajaero added.

The labour leader also expressed concern that the government was still failing to fulfill its obligations to its workers in spite of repeated requests and a clear ultimatum.

He saw that the administration constantly used forceful methods to intimidate and discredit labour union leaders rather than holding talks.

“It continues to remain our belief that the people ought to be the only reason for governance and nothing else. The government must therefore seek the welfare of the people at all times. The refusal to put the people first compels all patriots to take the right step in assisting the government to govern well.

“The hike in electricity tariff further impoverishes the already suffering people, and denies them the right to decent living. Instead of taking remedial action or engaging in meaningful dialogue, Nigerians were visited with a barrage of the usual propaganda.”

Ajaero stated what will come next: “In light of this persistent inaction, we- the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress-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, June 3, 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 decisive action. We cannot and will not accept any further delays or excuses. The welfare of Nigerian workers and people is non-negotiable, and we are ready to take all necessary steps to ensure that their rights are protected and their voices heard.”

The federal government's refusal to budge on the previously mentioned recommended N60,000 was the main reason why negotiations over the minimum wage between Organized Labor and the federal government broke down on Friday, May 31.

We have experienced deadlocks before.

The Minister of Information went on to clarify, saying that the initial goal of the tripartite committee's formation was to identify areas of agreement.

He also expressed hope that a deal may still be reached with the unions, pleading with them not to allow the progress made thus far to be undone.

“Our message is that of an appeal and the need for Labour to see reason with the government. That was even the basis for setting up the tripartite committee that was made up of Organised Labour, the sub-nationals and the FG. This was because the government just didn't want to make unilateral decisions. In any case, the position on the wage regime is not a one-sided thing.

“We expect that they will see reason with the government. That is why we are calling on them to show understanding by not embarking on the strike because we don't want that at this point. A strike is not the solution to our problem. We are continuing our negotiation with them. The minister and other stakeholders are still talking to them and we believe that we will find a common ground," he stated.