Nationwide strike begins across Nigeria amidst wage dispute between labour unions, government
Nationwide strike has commenced across Nigeria on Monday after negotiations failed between the government and organised labour unions over the minimum wage dispute.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) had on Friday declared a nationwide strike beginning from Monday, June 3rd, 2024 over the tripartite committee’s inability to agree on a new minimum wage and hike in electricity tariff.
The organised labour bodies are seeking a new minimum wage to cushion the biting cost of living in Nigeria that has reached new record levels, following the removal of subsidy and floating of the local currency.
Fuel distribution, health, bank and other essential services nationwide are expected to be affected as critical sector unions had written to their members to ensure total compliance.
Last minutes moves by the Senate president, Godswill Akpabio, speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, among others, failed to stop the proposed strike, after a marathon meeting with NLC president, Joe Ajaero, and his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo.
Meanwhile, in a bid to forestall potential chaos and uphold the sanctity of law and order, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has issued a resounding call for restraint, urging organized labour to reconsider its proposed nationwide strike action.
Emphasising the imperative of adherence to legal procedures, the NPF underscores the pivotal role of dialogue in resolving grievances while averting the specter of societal unrest.
Encouraging calmness and compliance with the law, the NPF reiterates the importance of dialogue and legal avenues in addressing grievances and fostering constructive resolutions.
