Update: NLC, TUC in emergency meeting with FG to end strike

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The Organised Labour has been invited by the Federal Government to an emergency meeting in Abuja in a bid to stop the ongoing nationwide strike which has paralysed the nation’s economy.

The meeting, said to be presently ongoing, has in attendance the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero; and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Festus Osifo.

Representing the government is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris Malagi; Labour Minister Nkiruka Onyejeocha; among others.

Businesses, airports, universities, hospitals and power supply were affected as Labour began an indefinite strike on Monday over Labour’s demand for a new minimum wage.

Both NLC and TUC insisted that the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 can no longer cater to the well-being of an average Nigerian worker.

They also said not all governors are paying the current wage award which expired in April 2024, five years after the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Thet want the Act to be reviewed accordingly every five years to meet the contemporary economic demands of workers.

Specifically, on May 31, the NLC and TUC declared a nationwide strike beginning on Monday, June 3, 2024, over the stalemate on the new minimum wage and reversal of the electricity tariff hike.

The Labour leaders had rejected three government offers, the latest being N60,000, with the TUC and the NLC pulling out of negotiations. Labour had pegged its minimum wage on ₦494,000.

Last-minute talks between labour leaders and the leadership of the National Assembly failed on Sunday night as the Organised Labour said there was no going back on the industrial action.