Minimum Wage: NLC, TUC insist on nationwide strike after meeting with NASS leadership

The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC late Sunday insisted on its nationwide indefinite strike earlier slated for Monday over minimum wage for workers.

This followed failed discussion with the leadership of the National Assembly at a meeting that lasted for four hours, as lawmakers made moves to halt the strike.

Speaking after the meeting, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio said, appeal was made to the Labour leaders to call off the strike as the National Assembly steps into the matter directly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“After about four hours deliberation with leadership of the Organized Labour, we resolved that the Federal Government should re-introduced the wage Award of N35,000 given to all categories of federal workers from October last year to February this year, pending the time the issue of minimum wage is resolved.”

Akpabio noted that the prevailed on the Union’s leadership to call of the strike because of the consequences, it would have on the nation and it’s collateral damages.

This, he said, will lead to the shut down of hospitals even if patients were in critical condition

He however, said, the leadership of the National Assembly and lawmakers were aware of the steps taken by the Federal Government and Labour to agree on acceptable minimum wage, which they were ready to join in the negotiation by reaching out to President Bola Tinubu.

Akpabio expressed the belief that the NLC will reach out to their various members to call off the strike in the interest of the nation.

In his remarks, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abbas said the Federal Government should first be made to implement the sum of N35,000 wage award before other demands before the NLC and Trade Union Congress reached their own agreement on unified minimum wage.

“That leadership of both the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, should go and consult with their members on the need to quickly call off the strike in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians”.

Reacting to the position of the NASS leadership, the President of TUC, Comrade Festus Osifo said, they will not call off the strike without consulting their members, hence, the strike will continue as planned on Monday.

He said: “It is difficult and infact impossible for us as labour leaders, to call off the strike here. We need to communicate with our various organs , meaning that, the industrial action starts on Monday as planned”, he said.

But the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, expressed optimism that labour will call off the strike as soon as possible based on appeal made to them by leadership of the National Assembly.

He said the Federal government would continue to pay the N35,000 wage award to all categories of federal workers pending when the minimum wage issue is resolved.

“Federal government is more than willing to pay its workforce, living minimum wage but the N494,000 demanded by labour is too high with attendant N9.5 trillion additional financial burden.

“In as much the federal government wants to improve the welfare and wellbeing of her 1 2 million workers, is also very mindful of the welfare and wellbeing of the remaining 200million people.

“Nigeria cannot afford strike action now. The leadership of the labour union should please reason with government and appeal made to it by leaders of the National Assembly.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume , Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, Minister Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Power, Adevayo Adelabu and the President pf Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, attended the meeting.