Less than 24 hours into the nationwide strike over the new national minimum wage and electricity tariff hike, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has instructed its state councils to ensure full compliance.
The strike, supported by unions in critical sectors like oil, electricity, and finance, was declared by both the NLC and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).
The strike, set to start on Monday, June 3, 2024, follows the government’s failure to agree on a new national minimum wage and reverse the recent electricity tariff increase.
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Despite a deadline set by labor leaders for May 31, the tripartite committee failed to reach a decision after multiple meetings.
NLC General Secretary Emmanuel Ugboaja issued a circular directing all state councils to mobilize members and ensure a complete shutdown of workplaces. He emphasized the importance of a joint action with the TUC for effective coordination.
NLC President Joe Ajaero clarified that the government must engage in further negotiations rather than impose an arbitrary wage increase. He noted that any resolution would require mutual agreement and urged workers to remain patient.
READ ALSO: Nationwide Strike Looms as Labour Insist On New Minimum Wage
Grassroots Parrot reported that key unions, including the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), and the National Union of Banks, Insurance, and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), have pledged their support for the strike. These unions have mobilized their members to ensure full participation and compliance.
NUPENG’s General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, stressed the union’s commitment to the strike, citing the government’s insensitivity to workers’ plights.
Similarly, NUBIFIE’s leaders directed their members to join the action, emphasizing the need for a fair minimum wage and the reversal of the electricity tariff hike.
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NUEE and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) also confirmed their participation. NUEE’s leaders highlighted the failure to implement a new minimum wage and the arbitrary electricity tariff increase, while MWUN instructed its members in all ports and terminals to comply with the strike directive.
As the strike commences, the NLC and TUC remain firm in their demands for better wages and fairer electricity tariffs, urging the government to address these critical issues promptly.