Minimum wage: NSWIC to meet Labour amid nationwide strike

The National Salaries Wages and Income Commission (NSWIC) has scheduled a meeting with organised labour over the ongoing nationwide strike which started on Monday.

The leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have declared a national strike following their failure to reach an agreement with the Federal Government on a new minimum wage.

Organised labour had demanded a new minimum wage of N497,000 for Nigerian workers but after several meetings, the Federal Government proposed the sum of N60,000.

READ ALSO: Strike: SGF Akume summons Labour to emergency meeting

The labour unions had also failed to reach an agreement with the government on the reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs, leading to a nationwide strike beginning on Monday.

In a bid to stop the ongoing nationwide strike, the Federal Government through the National Salaries Wages and Income Commission, has asked for a meeting with the leaders of organised labour.

With Nigeria’s economy also crumbling due to the strike, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume has also summoned organised labour to an emergency meeting.

READ ALSO: ASUU joins NLC, TUC nationwide strike

The proposed meeting was confirmed by the President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Comrade Festus Osifo.

Osifo disclosed that labour leaders made up of the NLC and TUC were on their way to the SGF office for the meeting.

With the nationwide strike taking full effect, some affiliated agencies have also joined organised labour in the exercise.

READ ALSO: Blackout as TCN workers shut down national grid over strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) President, Emmanuel Osodeke, in a statement addressed to the branch chairpersons and zonal coordinators of the association, directed university lecturers across Nigeria to show solidarity with organised labour by joining the strike.

Aviation unions including the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), the Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) directed their members to take part in the nationwide strike.

The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) also directed members at all ports, jetties, terminals, and oil and gas platforms to ensure total compliance with the strike.

READ ALSO: Strike: Anambra records 90% compliance- NLC Chairman

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) requested all executives to mobilise their members for total compliance with the strike directive.

The National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) also directed their members to join the nationwide strike.

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) directed all branches to ensure compliance with the strike, ensuring a total shutdown of all courts and judicial institutes across Nigeria.