Wednesday 26 September 2018

Minimum Wage: NLC Directs Workers To Begin Strike Tomorrow

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed workers all over the country to proceed on a nationwide warning strike with effect from Thursday.

This followed the delay in approving a new minimum wage.

General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, directed all industrial unions in the country and state councils to immediately begin the mobilisation of their members in readiness for the warning strike.

It read, “This is to inform you that the organised labour shall commence a nationwide warning strike in respect of the non-implementation of the National Minimum Wage effective midnight of Wednesday, September 26, 2018.

“All industrial unions and all state councils are to commence mobilisation immediately for an effective strike action nationwide. A formal notification letter will be sent later in the day.”


President Muhammadu Buhari had in November 2017, inaugurated a tripartite committee to negotiate a new national minimum wage for the country.

The government had assured workers that the committee, which began sitting in March 2018, would conclude its work by the end of this month.

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who assured the workers of a new wage by the end of the third quarter, later announced that the committee had yet to finalise its work.

He stated that the government needed more time to consult before arriving at a figure which would be discussed by the committee.

The panel subsequently adjourned indefinitely.

The development, however, angered organised labour which accused the government of delaying the process and issued a two-week ultimatum.

It threatened to embark on a strike if the government failed to recall the committee and conclude negotiation on the new minimum wage.

Though Vice President Yemi Osinbajo held a meeting with the tripartite committee last week in response to the threat, the unions appeared unimpressed.