The ongoing indefinite strike called by organised labour may end today if agreements reached with the federal government on a new national minimum wage on Monday is anything to go by.
The agreement was reached at a meeting convened by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, in Abuja. The meeting was also attended by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, indicating the importance the Bola Tinubu administration attached to it.
Although no amount was agreed upon as the new minimum wage, the parties agreed that the federal government would agree to a higher figure than the N60,000 it currently offers.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) began an indefinite strike on Monday to force the government to agree on a new minimum wage for workers as well as review the increase in the price of electricity for some consumers.
Monday’s agreement was signed by the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero; his counterpart in the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Festus Osifo; the Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, and the Minister of Labour, Nkiruka Onyejeocha.
“The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria is committed to a National Minimum Wage that is higher than N60,000,” the agreement states.
To expedite a final agreement on the new minimum wage, the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage will meet daily over the next week. The goal is to arrive at an agreeable minimum wage that meets the expectations of both the government and the labour unions.
“Arising from the above, the Tripartite Committee is to meet every day for the next one week with a view to arriving at an agreeable National Minimum Wage;
“Labour in deference to the high esteem of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria’s commitment in (ii) above undertakes to convene a meeting of its organs immediately to consider this commitment; and A part of the agreement is the assurance that no worker will be victimised for participating in the industrial action.”
Following the agreement, the NLC and TUC leaderships are expected to meet with their unions’ executives and those of other affiliated unions on Tuesday to brief them and seek their approval to suspend the strike. That approval is likely to be granted and the strike may be suspended thereafter.
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