The Federal Government has called for an emergency meeting with the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Tuesday in a bid to resolve the ongoing nationwide strike over minimum wage issues.
The meeting, organized by the National Salaries Wages and Income Commission, aims to address the demands of organized labour, which include an increase in the proposed minimum wage and a reversal of the recent electricity tariff hike to N65/kWh.
The nationwide strike, which began at midnight on Sunday, June 2, 2024, has led to several unions shutting down workplaces across the country, adhering to the directive from the NLC and TUC.
The labour unions have expressed their dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s reluctance to finalize and enact a new National Minimum Wage Act.
The current deadlock follows failed negotiations, where the government proposed an increase of the minimum wage to N60,000, up from their initial offer of N57,000.
However, this was met with rejection from the labour unions, who have significantly reduced their initial demand from N497,000 to N494,000.
NLC President Joe Ajaero and TUC counterpart Festus Osifo, in a joint statement, voiced their serious concerns and disappointment over the government’s handling of the minimum wage negotiations.
The unions had set a deadline of May 31, 2024, for the government to conclude negotiations, but talks broke down last Tuesday when both parties were unable to reach an agreement.
