Organized Labour Suspends Strike for Five Days Amid Minimum Wage Negotiations

In a strategic move aimed at fostering dialogue, members of organized labour, including the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), have decided to suspend their ongoing strike for a period of five days.

This decision was confirmed by a representative of the NLC during a briefing with our correspondent in Abuja.

The industrial action, which commenced on Monday, was initially triggered by the federal government’s failure to address two critical demands: the reversal of the recent electricity tariff hike and the approval of a new minimum wage by May 31. As the strike gained momentum, it became clear that a resolution was urgently needed to avert further disruptions.

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In a bid to resolve the impasse, the federal government engaged in a marathon six-hour meeting with the leadership of organized labor in Abuja on Monday night. Following the discussions, it was announced that President Bola Tinubu is committed to increasing the proposed minimum wage above the current suggestion of N60,000.

According to the agreement reached, a Tripartite Committee will convene daily over the next week to finalize a mutually acceptable National Minimum Wage. This committee, comprising representatives from the government, labor unions, and the private sector, aims to ensure that the new wage structure reflects the economic realities and cost of living in Nigeria.

The resolutions from the meeting included a pledge from organized labor to immediately convene meetings with their members to consider the government’s new offer. It was also agreed that no worker would face any form of victimization for participating in the industrial action.

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Representing the federal government, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, the Minister of State for Labor and Employment, and Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, signed the resolutions, reinforcing the government’s commitment to finding an amicable solution.

As the labor centers prepare to release an official statement on the suspension, stakeholders across the nation are hopeful that the ongoing negotiations will yield a positive outcome, ensuring better welfare for workers and stability within the labor market. The five-day suspension provides a crucial window for both parties to engage in constructive dialogue and reach a consensus that will benefit all Nigerians.