Minimum Wage Strike Will Be Total - NLC

The Nigerian Labour Congress has restated its determination to go on strike come Tuesday, November 6th.

This was revealed in a communiqué presented after a consolidated meeting of central working committee of all registered trade unions in Nigeria held on Friday, at the Airport Hotel, Lagos. The committee consists of presidents, general secretaries, and treasurers of trade unions in Nigeria.

Presenting the communiqué, Ayuba Wabah, NLC president, said, the Congress remains resolute on its plan to commence indefinite strike action on November 6th, 2018,” except government accepts and begins the process of implementation of the reports.

He called all stakeholders to commence immediate mobilization of union workers “for total shutdown of the country on the 6th of November, 2018.”

The NLC president added that the joint central working committee advised Nigerians to start stocking foods and other necessities of life ahead of the industrial action.

“We condemn government designs to clampdown on Labour. They must know that the right to strike remains with Trade Union and Labour rights as it cannot be abridged. it is what distinguishes the workers from a slave.”

Waba further stressed that “the organized Labour wishes to maintain and reiterate its unwavering stand by the fact that the national minimum wage tripartite negotiating council has concluded its assignment, and arrived at a compromised position or agreement of N30,000 new minimum wage.

“Our acceptance of agreement on the new minimum wage is borne out of patriotism and attitude of give-and-take, essentially in the spirit of patriotism and what social dialogue espouse.

“We condemn in very strong terms attempt by government to deploy blackmail and strong-arm tactics to cow workers into submission.

“We rely on our rich tradition as a resilient movement that relies on the inexhaustible reserves of justice, equity and goodwill of the Nigeria people. We assure government that any attempt to muzzle workers to accept modern-day slavery in their own country will be resisted.”

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“We demand that the chairman of the national minimum wage negotiating committee be allowed to submit the report of already concluded national minimum wage negotiation to Mr. President for transmission to the national assembly for consideration and passage to law.”

Responding to the reported injunction secured by the federal government from the National Industrial Court, NIC, to stop the Labour from going on strike, Joe Ajaero, president, United Labour Congress, said the Congress is not aware of such development.

“We are not aware of any injunction, and we are not going to discuss something we are not aware of. It is mere speculation. The strike is going to be total,” Ajero said.