The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have announced an indefinite nationwide strike starting Monday, June 3, 2024. This decision follows the tripartite committee’s failure to agree on a new minimum wage and the increase in electricity tariffs.
TUC President Festus Osifo made the announcement during a joint news conference with NLC leaders in Abuja on Friday. The labor unions expressed their frustration over the Federal Government’s inability to finalize negotiations on a new minimum wage by the end of May, as previously requested.
“In light of this persistent inaction, we, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), hereby issue a notice of commencement of an indefinite nationwide strike to the Federal Government,” Osifo stated.
He emphasized that the unresolved issues include the finalization and legal enactment of the National Minimum Wage, the reversal of the electricity tariff hike, and the discontinuation of consumer categorization into Bands. “Nigerian workers are compelled by these failures to embark on an indefinite nationwide industrial action beginning on Monday, the 3rd of June, 2024 to press home our demands,” Osifo added.
The labor unions had previously withdrawn from negotiations and rejected two offers from the Federal Government, the latest being N60,000. They continue to demand a minimum wage of N497,000.
The removal of the fuel subsidy and the floating of the naira have significantly increased the cost of living in Nigeria, intensifying the call for a new minimum wage. In response, labor leaders have proposed several measures, including a new minimum wage and alternative transportation options, to mitigate the impact of the subsidy removal.
The government had established a committee comprising labor leaders, government officials, and members of the organized private sector to negotiate the new minimum wage. Despite numerous meetings, the committee has been unable to reach a consensus, leading to the unions’ decision to strike. The Federal Government has yet to respond to the latest announcement from the TUC and NLC.