The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have temporarily suspended their strike for five days, a leader of the NLC confirmed on Tuesday in Abuja. The labor unions are expected to release an official statement before beginning new negotiations with the Federal Government.
The strike, which began on Monday, was initiated to protest the Federal Government’s failure to approve a new minimum wage by the May 31 deadline and to reverse the hike in electricity tariffs.
Following a six-hour meeting with the leadership of organized labor in Abuja on Monday night, the Federal Government expressed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to increasing the proposed minimum wage above N60,000.
The meeting concluded with the agreement that, “The President of Nigeria, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, is committed to establishing a National Minimum Wage higher than N60,000; and the Tripartite Committee will convene daily for the next week to finalize an agreeable National Minimum Wage.”
Organized labor also agreed to “immediately hold meetings of its organs to consider this new offer, and no worker would face victimization as a consequence of participating in the industrial action.”
These resolutions were signed on behalf of the Federal Government by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha. Representing organized labor were NLC President Joe Ajaero and TUC President Festus Osifo.
Further details will be provided as they become available.
