Labour declares indefinite strike over minimum wage

Members of the organised labour, on Friday declared to embark on an indefinite strike over the federal government’s refusal to raise the minimum wage from N60,000. Joe Ajaero, the President of NLC, who disclosed this at an ongoing press conference in Labour House, Abuja, said the strike begins by the midnight of Sunday, June 2, […]

Members of the organised labour, on Friday declared to embark on an indefinite strike over the federal government’s refusal to raise the minimum wage from N60,000.

Joe Ajaero, the President of NLC, who disclosed this at an ongoing press conference in Labour House, Abuja, said the strike begins by the midnight of Sunday, June 2, 2024.

• Akande To Tinubu: You Have 3 More Years To Deliver True Federal Constitution, Reduce Poverty, Others
• Passengers, farmers, others killed as bandits hit Katsina communities

Ajaero, who was flanked by the President of TUC, Festus Osifo and other Labour leaders at the briefing, called on Nigerians to rise defend their interest over failure of the government to prioritize the welfare of workers.

He said, “If you could remember we had a National Executive Council meeting of the NLC as well as the TUC where we were further charged that the leadership should take charge and take all actions to call government to order at the expiration of the ultimatum.

“Today is May 31, 2024 and this night the ultimatum expires. So we hereby declare the commencement of a nationwide Industrial action effective from Monday June 3rd, 2024 and this strike shall be indefinite.

“The strike shall be on untill we have a new national minimum wage and until government is serious and the increase in electricity tariff is reversed. We are united on this and we believe this is the way forward.”

The labour leader said they believe that this the time to stand in solidarity with the working class because they have been bartered and have been downtrodden the way they have been treated from May 29 till date. He said that workers in country shall commence strike by midnight Sunday.

Ajaero added, “It continues to remain our belief that the people ought to be the only reason for governance and nothing else. Government must therefore seek the welfare of the people at all times and refusal to put the people first compels all patriots to take the right step in assisting the government govern well.

“The hike in electricity tariff impoverishes further the already suffering people and denies them the right to decent living. Instead of taking remedial action or engaging in a meaningful dialogue,Nigerians were visited with a barrage of the usual propaganda.

“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.

“We reiterate that the since the National Minimum Wage negotiation exercise has not been concluded and the agreed wage passed into law; the hike in electricity tariff not reversed and categorization of consumers into bands not stopped as demanded.

“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.”

He maintained that both the NLC and TUC are united in this cause while calling on all our affiliates and state Councils, Civil Society Organizations, market men and women and the general populace to prepare for a decisive action.

“We cannot and will not accept any further delays or excuses. The welfare of Nigerian workers and people is non-negotiable, and we are ready to take all necessary steps to ensure that their rights are protected and their voices heard.

“We regret the inconveniences this refusal of the federal government to heed our demands may cause all of us but we assure you of our determination to pursue this cause to its conclusion,” the labour leader said.