Minimum Wage:FG, Labour Hold Meeting As Strike Paralyses Economy In Nigeria

Federal Government has invited labour leaders to a meeting in Abuja, the country’s political capital, following the commencement of the nationwide strike by the Organised Labour over a new minimum wage for workers which paralysed economic activities in Nigeria

on Monday 

The meeting, which has the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero; and his counterpart in the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo, in attendance was ongoing as at the time of filing this report 

 Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume led top officials  on the side of government which includes Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris Malagi; Labour Minister Nkiruka Onyejeocha; among others.

The meeting is expected to continue this  Tuesday, 4th of June, 2024

Businesses, airports, universities, hospitals and power supply were affected as Labour began the indefinite strike to compel government to review its present offer of N60,000 as new minimum wage and come up with acceptable offer 

Both NLC and TUC said the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 can no longer cater to the well-being of an average Nigerian worker, lamenting that not all governors are paying the current wage award which expired in April 2024, five years after the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari. 

"The Act should be reviewed every five years to meet the contemporary economic demands of workers", the labour maintained 

Labour later handed the Federal Government a May 31 deadline for the new minimum wage. On May 31, the workers’ organs in the country declared a nationwide strike beginning on Monday, June 3, 2024, over the government committee’s inability to agree on a new minimum wage and reversal of the electricity tariff hike.

During the failed talks with the government, Labour rejected three government offers, the latest being N60,000. The TUC and the NLC subsequently pulled out of negotiations, insisting on ₦494,000 as the new minimum wage.

Last-minute talks between labour leaders and the leadership of the National Assembly failed on Sunday night as the Organised Labour said there was no going back on the industrial action.