Strike: Labour Urges Tinubu’s Intervention As FG Warns Of Economic Threat (Full Details)

Strike: Labour Urges Tinubu’s Intervention As FG Warns Of Economic Threat (Full Details)

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced an indefinite nationwide strike set to begin on Monday, June 3, 2024, following the collapse of negotiations with the Federal Government over the new minimum wage.

This decision comes after Organized Labour called on President Bola Tinubu to personally intervene to prevent the strike. Negotiations stalled last Tuesday when the Federal Government and the Organized Private Sector increased their wage offer to ₦60,000 from an initial ₦57,000, an offer Labour deemed insufficient.

Sources from the Trade Union Congress and NLC revealed that the incremental increase failed to meet the “living wage” promised by President Tinubu during his campaign and on Workers’ Day. Labour’s demand, initially ₦497,000, was revised down to ₦494,000, emphasizing their willingness to negotiate for a more substantial increase that reflects the economic realities faced by Nigerian workers.

NLC President Joe Ajaero expressed disappointment over the failed talks, stating that the government’s reluctance to meet their revised demands has left labour with no choice but to strike for fair wages.

In response, Minister of State for Labour Nkeiruka Onyecheoja labeled the impending strike “unnecessary,” urging Labour to return to the negotiation table. She highlighted that the ₦60,000 minimum wage proposal aims to balance worker welfare with economic stability, cautioning that a higher wage could destabilize the economy.

Onyecheoja remarked, “The government is still willing to accommodate them, to listen to words of reason and knowledge, and to know that the president is committed to the Nigerian workers and Nigerian citizens, all of us.” She argued that Labour’s demand of ₦494,000 is unsustainable, stating, “By the time you do adjustments or anything, that means there won’t be…in short, the government will not breathe anymore.”

NLC National Treasurer Hakeem Ambali called on President Tinubu to personally intervene, deeming the ₦60,000 offer unreasonable given the current inflation rate. Ambali stressed that the government had ample time to negotiate a fair minimum wage to prevent the strike, adding that Labour’s decision was final unless the President intervenes.

He highlighted the disparity between the government’s wage proposal and the inflation rate, noting, “If the PMS price was increased by 100 per cent, then the 100 per cent increment would have been reasonable. What is the percentage ratio? It was ₦165 to ₦700.”

Ambali also countered claims that a higher minimum wage would harm the economy, arguing it would boost purchasing power and stimulate economic growth through increased patronage of local businesses and SMEs.

He concluded, “Once workers are well paid, the purchasing power will increase. All the local manufacturing companies, the SMEs, and patronage will increase, and that will grow the economy. The government will also generate huge amounts of taxes from the workers.”

Ambali urged the government to show understanding and commitment, asserting that Labour is prepared to compromise if the government demonstrates seriousness in the negotiations.