Labour Unions Announce Nationwide Strike Over Minimum Wage Dispute

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have declared a nationwide strike commencing on Monday, June 3rd, 2024, in response to the deadlock in negotiations over a new minimum wage for workers

This announcement follows the inability of the tripartite committee to reach an agreement on the minimum wage issue

The organized labour leaders expressed disappointment as their initial deadline for the Federal Government to finalize minimum wage negotiations by the end of May lapsed without a resolution

The unions also cited their opposition to recent spikes in electricity tariffs which they claim burden both workers and consumers nationwide

Usifo, a spokesperson for the unions, stated that the decision to strike was necessary due to the ongoing inaction

According to Usifo, the strikes are in response to the failure to conclude the National Minimum Wage negotiations, the unresolved electricity tariff increase, and the continuation of consumer categorization into Bands

Notably, the negotiation process had previously collapsed, with the unions rejecting two offers from the Federal Government, with the latest standing at N60,000

The indefinite nationwide strike is set to commence on Monday, the 3rd of June, 2024, as a means to press the demands of the Nigerian workers and escalate the urgency of the situation to the government