The Federal Government has called on the Organised Labour to shelve its decision to embark on an indefinite strike from Monday, June 3, 2024, in protest against the government’s refusal to raise the proposed minimum wage from N60,000.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen, hours after the organized labour declared plans to embark on a nationwide strike on Monday to press home its demand.
Mohammed who described the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress as partners in Project Nigeria, noted that industrial action was not the solution to the ongoing negotiation for a new minimum wage for workers.
The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, stated that the indefinite strike would begin by midnight on Monday.
The NLC leader, who read from a jointly prepared speech alongside his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo, expressed what he described as “grave concern and disappointment” over the Federal Government’s failure to conclude and pass into law a new National Minimum Wage Act, and reverse the hike in electricity tariff to N65/kWh.
Ajaero noted that the Friday meeting between the government and Labour further demonstrated the lack of seriousness and apparent contempt with which the Nigerian state held the demands of Nigerian workers and people.
He pointed out that no governor was present and ministers were absent, except the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, who doubles as a conciliator.
Ajaero further noted that during the last May Day celebration, Organised Labour issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the conclusion of the minimum wage negotiation exercise by the end of the month, to which he said there has been no significant progress or commitment from the government towards meeting the demand.
The labour leader further stated that it was disheartening that despite the repeated calls and the clear ultimatum issued, the government continued to neglect its responsibility to its workforce.
On the next step, Ajaero said, in light of this persistent inaction, the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress will commence an indefinite nationwide strike to the Federal Government.