The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has just announced a five-day suspension of the nationwide strike that started yesterday, Monday, 3rd of June 2024. This decision was made after discussions with the Federal Government, as confirmed by an NLC leader in Abuja. A formal statement from the unions is expected shortly, outlining the next steps before negotiations with the government resume.
The strike, which began on Monday, was initiated to protest the Federal Government’s failure to approve a new minimum wage by the May 31 deadline and to address the hike in electricity tariffs. These issues had been a major point of contention between the organized labor unions and the government.
In a six-hour meeting on Monday night in Abuja, the Federal Government, led by President Bola Tinubu, demonstrated a commitment to increasing the minimum wage. The government expressed a willingness to raise the minimum wage to an amount higher than the initially proposed N60,000.
According to the agreement reached, the FG is dedicated to setting a new National Minimum Wage higher than N60,000. A Tripartite Committee, which includes representatives from the government, labor unions, and employers, will meet daily over the next week to finalize the new minimum wage.
The agreement specifies, “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 finalize an agreeable National Minimum Wage.”
In response to the government’s offer, the organized labor unions have agreed to hold immediate meetings with their members to discuss the new proposal. They also assured that no worker would face repercussions for participating in the strike. This move indicates a collaborative effort to reach a mutually beneficial resolution.
The resolutions were formally signed on behalf of the Federal Government by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha. Their signatures signify the government’s commitment to addressing the concerns raised by the labor unions and to working towards a satisfactory outcome for all parties involved.
The five-day suspension of the strike by the NLC and TUC marks a significant step towards resolving the ongoing dispute over minimum wage and electricity tariffs. As negotiations continue, there is hope that a new, higher minimum wage will be agreed upon, benefiting workers across Nigeria. The daily meetings of the Tripartite Committee over the next week will be crucial in determining the final outcome.
