Labour unions plans indefinite strike as from Nov 6 over government failure to honour N30,000 minimum wage agreement

NIGERIA is facing the prospect of a nationwide strike next month after organised labour warned that it would call out its members to take industrial action unless the federal government meets honours their agreement for a N30,000 a month minimum wage.

Over recent months, the government and the trade unions have been negotiating a minimum wage and the two sides have agreed to increase the amount to N30,000 from the current N18,000 a month. According to the unions, the Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage had concluded its negotiations and agreed on N30, 000 following an appeal made by Organisation Private Sector (OPS) as to what its members could afford.

However, so far, the government has failed to make any moves to introduce the new minimum wage and exasperated with the delay, the unions have given the government until November 6 to take action or face industrial action. Ayuba Wabba, the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) made this known in Lagos today while issuing a joint statement signed with his colleagues Bobbio Kaigama, the president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joe Ajaero, the president of the United Labour Congress (ULC).

His position, however, is being denied by Dr Chris Ngige, the minister of labour and productivity, who claims that  the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage was yet to conclude its negotiations. Dr Ngige said that state governors had made a proposal of N20,000 while the federal government had offered N24,000.

In anticipation of the strike, President Muhammadu Buhari has already signed an executive order titled No work, No pay, which will mean that striking workers cannot be paid while taking industrial action.  However, Mr Wabba, said this will not deter the unions as organised labour has not not seen any sign that this government is willing to demonstrate honour and integrity in relating with workers and the masses.

Mr Wabba added: "We have resolved to organise a one-day of national outrage and mourning, which would be used to sensitise Nigerians on our plight and on the issues at stake. This shall take place in all states of the federation including Abuja on Tuesday, the 30th day of October, 2018 and a meeting of various organs of the unions will hold as appropriate.

“On Friday, November 2, a joint central working committee meeting of all the labour centres in Nigeria shall hold to receive reports and make final preparations for our ultimate engagement with the federal government on this matter. This is the first time in the history of this nation in recent times that such meeting will take place and this goes a long way to show the seriousness with which Nigerian workers and its leadership hold this matter.

“If nothing is responsibly done by the federal government to meet our demands, on Monday, November 6, we shall embark on a nationwide strike. This would compel government to show more sensitivity to the plight of Nigerians and the suffering that is decimating our people on daily basis."

He also called on Nigerians and workers not to be discouraged in the struggle for the new national minimum wage. Mr Wabba further explained that it was not true that organised labour had proposed N30,000 as the new national minimum wage.

“It is also not true that the committee did not agree on a figure during its last sitting. We accepted N30,000 as a compromise to demonstrate the willingness of Nigerian workers to make sacrifices towards nation building.

“ Anything to the contrary no matter the quantum and character of the din or how well couched it may appear cannot be true. Resorting to Goebbelsianism at this time of national emergency, which requires men and women of integrity is rather unfortunate and cannot suddenly make the brazen falsehoods truths," Mr Wabba added.

He added that it has become necessary for the OPS as represented in the Tripartite Committee to speak up on this matter. Wabba said that keeping silent in the face of this apparent mischief does our nation no good and it can only help mischief, dishonesty and impunity to grow.