Victor EzejaOrganised labour in Nigeria has announced its decision to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike beginning from Monday, June 3, over failure of the Federal Government to conclude negotiations on a new minimum wage and reverse the hike in electricity tariff for band A customers across the country.
This was made known in a statement on Friday, signed by president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, and his counterpart in the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Engr Festus Osifo.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelRepresentatives of the labour unions had gone for a meeting with the Federal Government on Friday to conclude negotiations on the issues of minimum wage and electricity tariff hike.
Labour had demanded an increase in national minimum wage and reversal of the electricity tariff back to N65 per kilowatt hour and removal of categorization of electricity customers into bands.
However, NLC and TUC said in the statement that the Friday’s meeting ended with no fruitful outcome. They claimed that the Federal Government showed lack of seriousness in negotiation for better welfare of Nigerian workers.
Prime Business Africa recalls that the labour unions had during May Day celebration, issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government to conclude negotiations about minimum wage by the end of May. “However, there has been no significant progress or commitment from the government towards meeting this demand,” the labour unions said in the statement.
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They noted that the essence of governance is to ensure the welfare of the people, adding that the recent hike in electricity tariff further impoverishes the people, thereby denying them the right to decent living.
The labour unions said it is disheartening that despite their repeated calls and the ultimatum, the government continued to neglect its responsibility to the workforce. They added that instead of engaging in a dialogue, the government agents resorted to using “attack dogs” to “denigrate and intimidate trade union leaders.”
“It continues to remain our belief that the people ought to be the only reason for governance and nothing else. Government must therefore seek the welfare of the people at all times and refusal to put the people first compels all patriots to take the right step in assisting the government govern well. The hike in electricity tariff impoverishes further the already suffering people and denies them the right to decent living. Instead of taking remedial action or engaging in a meaningful dialogue, Nigerians were visited with a barrage of the usual propaganda.
“In light of this persistent inaction, we, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), hereby issue a notice of commencement of an indefinite nationwide strike to the Federal Government.
“We reiterate that the 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 categorization 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, the 3rd of June, 2024 to press home our demands.”
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The NLC and TUC said they are united in the action and called on all their affiliates and state Councils, Civil Society Organizations, market men and women and the general populace to prepare for the industrial 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.
“We regret the inconveniences this refusal of the federal demands may cause all of us but we assure you of our determination to pursue this to its conclusion,” the labour unions stated.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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