“Wabba noted that the NLC was open to dialogue on the strike. He said: “In compliance with this mandate, all workers and private sector at all levels across the country have been directed to comply.”
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on all its members and affiliate unions to join its nationwide strike over federal government delay in the implementation of a new national minimum wage.
The strike was called due to the refusal of the federal government to reconvene the meeting of the tripartite national minimum wage committee to enable it to conclude its work.
According to Premium Times, Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President, said this while briefing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, September 26, adding that the strike will commence from midnight of September 26.
Wabba noted that the NLC was open to dialogue on the strike. He said: “In compliance with this mandate, all workers and private sector at all levels across the country have been directed to comply.
“All public and private institutions, offices, banks, schools, public and private business premises including filling station are to remain shut until further noticed.”
TUC had also asked its members to commence the strike.
The workers are demanding a new minimum wage of about N50,000 instead of the current national minimum wage of N18,000. Most state governors, as well as proponents of true federalism, have, however, argued that states should be allowed to set their own minimum wage especially as many states are barely able to pay the current N18,000 minimum wage.
In a previous report by The Genius Media, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Tuesday, September 25, insisted organised labour would commence strike from early hours of Thursday, September 27, following the federal government’s failure to honour its ultimatum on the new minimum wage.
A statement signed by the secretary-general of the union, Musa-Lawal Ozigi, in Abuja stated that the decision to embark on strike was sequel to the resolve of the Central Working Committee of TUC on September 24.
Ozigi said that following the mandate of the CWC, TUC leadership would take all necessary action to effect the ultimatum on the new minimum wage in collaboration with other stakeholders.
The Genius Media.
