NLC, TUC suspend minimum wage strike for 5-days

By Samuel Ogunsona

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have suspended the nationwide strike proclaimed on Monday.

The Union “relaxed” the strike for 5-days after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting which took place in Abuja on Monday night.

The industrial action which started on Monday was due to the failure of Nigerian government to approve the new minimum wage by May 31 as well as its failure to reverse the hike in electricity tariff.

The central Union is angry that while cost of essentials are upbound, salaries continue to fail in meeting needs of workers.

Many Nigerians see the strike proclaimed by Labour and a necessary tool to dry home the wishes of millions of Nigerians hungry and angry and a system that constantly take them for granted.

Inflation is now at over 33% high while on a weekly basis prices of items continue to shoot beyond the expected ceiling.

The Union industrial actions which lasted for over 24-hours had disrupted the country’s economy and government activities across the state. The National Grid was shut plunging the country to darkness.

However, after some long hours meeting with the Union leaders, the Federal g
Government has expressed its commitment to raise to minimum wage beyond N60,000 offer

The agreement stated, “The President of Nigeria, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, is committed to establishing a National Minimum Wage higher than N60,000; and the Tripartite Committee will convene daily for the next week to finalise an agreeable National Minimum Wage.”

The Union also stated that it would hold an “immediately meetings of its organs to consider this new offer, and no worker would face victimisation as a consequence of participating in the industrial action.”

The Labour Union had reached an agreement with the federal government on a new minimum wage on Monday.