Nigeria’s Labour Unions Call Off Nationwide Strike Amid Minimum Wage Negotiations

In a significant development, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have decided to call off their nationwide strike that paralyzed various activities across the country. This decision comes as the two sides involved in negotiating the new minimum wage failed to reach a final agreement on the proposed wage increase.

Following a meeting on Monday, both the government representatives and organized labor expressed the intention to continue discussions on the minimum wage and the issue of recent electricity tariff hikes, indicating that further talks are required to finalize these key matters.

The parties involved in the negotiation agreed to consider a minimum wage higher than 60,000 naira. However, the exact amount of the new minimum wage is yet to be determined.

Despite the strike being called off, the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, and the President of the Trade Union Congress, Festus Osifo, have pledged to provide further details on the ongoing negotiations following a joint extraordinary national executive council meeting of the unions.

According to a statement from the NLC Lagos State Secretary, Tayo Aboyeji, work activities are set to resume on Wednesday post the strike cancellation, signaling a temporary respite for the workforce across the country.