Labour may call off strike today as FG promises minimum wage above N60,000

Labour may call off strike today as FG promises minimum wage above N60,000

The organised labour may suspend its nationwide industrial action today (Tuesday).

This positive signals came late Monday night after the Federal Government promised a new minimum wage for civil servants that would be higher than N60,000 monthly initially proposed.

Labour unions (Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress) will today (Tuesday) convene a meeting of its decision-making organs to review their stand on the issue and the ongoing nationwide strike.

These are some of the resolutions both government team and labour representatives reached on Monday night at an emergency meeting called by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, held in Abuja.

After exhaustive deliberation and engagement by both parties, the following resolutions were reached:

I. 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;

II. Arising from the above, the Tripartite Committee is to meet everyday for the next one week with a view to arriving at an agreeable National Minimum Wage;

III. 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

IV. No worker would be victimized as a result of the industrial action.

The communique was signed on behalf of the Federal Government by two ministers: Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation; and Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment.

And for the organised labour, it was signed by Joe Ajaero, President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC); and Festus Osifo, President, Trade Union Congress (TUC).

Following the above resolutions, there are signs that the labour will call off the  strike today, sources at the meeting said.

Activities in many critical sectors of the nation have been paralysed by the industrial action.

Workers in the power, medical, eduction, financial, aviation, railway and oil industry  sectors joined the strike.