The Organised Labour Unions, particularly the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has suspended the strike action embarked upon on Monday June 3, 2024 to press for a new minimum wage and reduction in electricity tariff.
TUC President Festus Osifo announced the suspension of the strike at about 12.30 pm after a joint extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the unions in Abuja on Tuesday, June 4.
The NLC had earlier stated that the unions had not suspended the strike, adding that they would make their decision known after a meeting of their various organs.
“Until we hear from our organs at our meeting scheduled for today 4th June, we are still on strike,” it said.
The NLC said this after the federal government had declared its readiness to offer higher than N60,000 national minimum wage it earlier proposed to the tripartite committee that deliberated on the issue.
The government’s decision was disclosed at a meeting of the committee convened on Monday night by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, after the Organised Labour had embarked on indefinite strike to press its demand for a new minimum wage.
In a circular jointly issued by the committee members at the end of the meeting, it was disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had expressed his commitment to a national minimum wage that is higher than N60,000
RESOLUTIONS REACHED AT THE MEETING BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE ORGANISED LABOUR HELD ON MONDAY 3RD JUNE, 2024
Further to the negotiation by the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage (NMW) and subsequent withdrawal of Labour from negotiation, the Leadership of the National Assembly intervened on 2nd June, 2024. The Organised Labour declared nationwide strike on Monday, 3rd June, 2024 to drive home its demands.
- The Federal Government, in the National interest, convened a meeting with Labour held in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on Monday 3rd June, with a view to ending the strike action.
- After exhaustive deliberation and engagement by both parties, the following resolutions were reached:
- 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.
Done in Abuja on the 3rd of June, 2024.
Signed
For the Federal Government of Nigeria:
- Mohammed Idris
03/08/24
Minister of Information and National Orientation
- Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha
Nerf 3/6/24
Minister of State for Labour and Employment
For the Organised Labour:
- Joe Ajaero
President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) - Festus Osifo
President, Trade Union Congress (TUC)