In a crucial attempt to halt the ongoing nationwide strike by organized labour, the Federal Government has extended an invitation to the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) for an emergency meeting on Tuesday.
The invitation was issued through the National Salaries, Wages, and Income Commission.
It remains uncertain whether the labour leaders will attend the meeting. The strike, which commenced at midnight on Sunday, June 2, 2024, has already seen several unions shutting down their workplaces in compliance with the directive from the NLC and TUC.
The strike was announced last Friday by organized labour in response to the Federal Government’s refusal to increase the proposed minimum wage from N60,000. NLC President Joe Ajaero and TUC President Festus Osifo, in a joint statement, voiced their serious concerns and disappointment over the government’s failure to finalize and pass a new National Minimum Wage Act into law. They also demanded a reversal of the recent electricity tariff hike to N65/kWh.
Both unions had previously given the Federal Government an ultimatum of May 31, 2024, to negotiate a new minimum wage. However, negotiations broke down on Tuesday after both parties presented their offers. The government had increased its initial offer from N57,000 to N60,000, which was promptly rejected by the labour representatives. Conversely, labour reduced their initial demand from N497,000 to N494,000 during the negotiations.
The newsreportersng.com reports that the strike has significantly impacted various sectors, as unions comply with the nationwide shutdown directive. The upcoming emergency meeting is seen as a critical opportunity for both parties to find a resolution and mitigate further disruptions.
Further updates will be provided as the situation develops.