Organised labour has confirmed that its planned indefinite strike, set to begin on Monday, remains in place despite last-minute efforts by the National Assembly leadership to prevent the industrial action.
On Sunday, representatives of organised labour stated that they do not have the authority to cancel the strike and reiterated their commitment to proceeding with the industrial action on Monday.
However, they agreed to hold an internal meeting to discuss the appeal from the Senate and House of Representatives leadership to suspend the strike to avoid exacerbating the hardships faced by Nigerians.
In a final attempt to prevent the indefinite nationwide strike, which organised labour had announced for Monday, June 3, 2024, over issues related to the minimum wage, the National Assembly leadership convened a meeting with labour leaders at the National Assembly Complex on Sunday evening.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, and other key National Assembly officials called an emergency meeting with the leadership of organised labour, which includes the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), to discourage the strike and reopen negotiations.
NLC President Joe Ajaero and TUC President Festus Osifo were among the labour leaders who attended the meeting.
NewdayReporters had previously reported that organised labour declared the indefinite strike due to the Federal Government’s failure to finalize and enact a new National Minimum Wage Act and reverse the increase in electricity tariffs to N65/kWh.
They instructed their members in various states and affiliate unions to mobilize for a comprehensive strike starting at midnight on June 3, 2024.
Following their Friday meeting, a joint statement by Ajaero and Osifo expressed frustration at the government’s approach to their demands.
The statement read, “Today’s meeting further demonstrated the unseriousness and apparent contempt with which the Nigerian state holds the demands of Nigerian workers and people. 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 show a lack of commitment to a successful National Minimum Wage negotiation exercise.
“During the last May Day celebration on May 1, 2024, we issued a clear ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the conclusion of this critical exercise by the end of the month. However, there has been no significant progress or commitment from the government towards meeting this demand.
“We also demanded a reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs from N225/kWh back to N65/kWh and an end to the apartheid categorization of consumers into Bands.
We conducted a nationwide one-day protest on May 13, 2024, giving the government until the end of the month to act, but the government has not shown any positive response despite the national outrage at this insensitive hike.
“Nigerian workers, who are the backbone of our nation’s economy, deserve fair and decent wages that reflect the current economic realities.
It is disheartening that despite our repeated calls and the clear ultimatum issued, the government continues to neglect its responsibility to the workforce. It has rather than engage in a dialogue persistently raised its attack dogs to seek to denigrate and intimidate trade union leaders.
“We believe that governance should prioritize the welfare of the people at all times. The government’s failure to do so compels all patriots to assist the government in governing well.
“The hike in electricity tariffs further impoverishes the already suffering populace and denies them the right to a decent living. Instead of taking remedial action or engaging in meaningful dialogue, Nigerians were met 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 since the National Minimum Wage negotiation exercise has not been concluded and the agreed wage passed into law; the hike in electricity tariffs 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, June 3, 2024, to press home our demands.”
