June 3, (THEWILL)- Organised labour on Sunday rejected calls from the leadership of the National Assembly to suspend the nationwide strike and resume negotiations over the minimum wage.
THEWILL reports that in last minutes efforts to avert the strike, the leadership of the National Assembly and representatives of the Federal Government, on Sunday evening, met with the leadership of the organised labour
The meeting was convened by both the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Recall that following a breakdown of negotiations over the new national minimum wage, Organised Labour, on Friday, declared an indefinite nationwide strike, starting on Monday.
At the meeting on Sunday evening, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, cautioned labour against a National Minimum Wage of N494,000, noting that it would force many private companies to sack workers if implemented.
While giving assurances that the federal government and the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly will look into the demands of labour, Akpabio appealed to Organised Labour to halt the strike and allow room for negotiation.
“But we must also be mindful of collateral damage. I don’t want us to; in the course of trying to arrive at minimum wage, we end up with a lot of serious issues of unemployment because as soon as we arrive at the minimum wage, we will expect the private sector to also adhere and then if they are unable to do so, the next thing will be a detachment of workers. “That was the reason we felt we should meet immediately. Of course, this is a major step in the right direction.
Indications emerged on Monday that the Federal Government wants organised labour to return to negotiations after the unions shunned last minute efforts by the leadership of the National Assembly to avert the strike during a meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and Trade Union Congress, TUC, leaders on Sunday.
THEWILL recalls that Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, a senoiu advocate had warned labour that embarking on the strike would violate an existing law banning strike. Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun reiterated the Minister’s position on Monday, warning that the strike would result in breakdown of law and order.
“Like you said, all of us are workers, we also have workers in our home, and our children are also workers . Whatever agreement we have made will be mutually beneficial to all, the government and the workers.
“So, we are all concerned. We are in the same shoes, we are wearing the same shoes, and we will be very glad to have something that is workable”, he said.
Also, Reps Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, while commending the unions for honouring their invitation, emphasised the need for strong collaboration among all the parties and arrived at a reasonable figure that would be acceptable as a minimum wage. While President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, said at the meeting that demands of labour was in the interest of Nigerian workers, his TUC counterpart, Comrade Festus Osifo, lamented the current living conditions, saying it is unbearable for Nigerian workers.
Osifo, who noted that the situation of the country has been “tough” since the beginning of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, said many Nigerians cannot afford public transportation and other necessities.
Emphasising that its decision stands despite last-minute efforts to prevent the strike, the labour unions said they will meet and discuss the appeal made by the leadership of the National Assembly in need to suspend the proposed strike and allow for more dialogue with its organs before taking a decision.
Addressing participants and journalists the end of the meeting on Sunday night, President of TUC, Festus Osifo, said the leadership of the labour unions would have to take the outcome of the meeting to various organs of the unions for final decision since they, himself and President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, do not have the power to call off the strike.
He said, “We are happy to attend this meeting. But it is not possible for us here to call off industrial action because there are conditions precedent, which was given to us by our men, that have to be met. We would have been much happier if this evening, the issues bordering on minimum wage were to be signed off by tomorrow morning (Monday). As at the last meeting, we were very slow to sign off the call for strike because what was left after months of meeting was to prepare the figures and sign the agreement.
“But we have listened to them, and we would take their plea to all our organs and have a meeting and relay what promises have been made to us. For now, we do not have the power to call off industrial action. It would continue while we hold a conversation with our respective organs as soon as possible.
The NLC announced an indefinite nationwide strike for Monday, June 3, 2024, stating the Federal Government’s refusal to raise the proposed minimum wage above N60,000.
Those at the Sunday meeting, in addition to the leadership of the national Assembly include the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris; Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Labour and Productivity, Nkiruka Onyejeocha; SGF George Akume; Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Folashade Esan and other principal officers of both the Senate and House of Representatives
