The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have declared a nationwide indefinite strike starting from Monday, June 3rd, 2024, in response to the impasse in negotiations with the government regarding the proposed minimum wage and the recent controversial increase in electricity tariffs.
After seven unsuccessful attempts to reach a consensus on a new minimum wage figure, negotiations finally collapsed on Friday.
The organised labour expressed frustration with the government’s lack of commitment and representation during the meeting.
While the government had made a new proposal of N60,000 (up from the previous N57,000), the labour unions rejected the offer, although they reduced their demand from N497,000 to N494,000.
The absence of key government officials and their representatives at the negotiations further deepened the disappointment of the labour unions, suggesting a lack of seriousness on the part of the government.
The organised labour had previously issued an ultimatum on May 1, 2024, demanding the conclusion of minimum wage negotiations by the end of May and the reversal of the electricity tariff hike.
Despite a nationwide protest and public outcry, the government’s response has been deemed inadequate by the labour unions.
The NLC and TUC reiterated that Nigerian workers deserve fair wages that reflect the current economic realities and called on various stakeholders, including civil society organizations and the general public, to join them in demanding the government’s attention to the welfare of its people.
The labour unions firmly stated that any further delays or excuses would not be tolerated, emphasizing that the welfare of Nigerian workers and citizens is non-negotiable.
