Minimum wage: Massive strike looms as Labour rejects govt N60k, key unions pledge support

The Federal Government has urgently appealed to organised labour to reconsider its planned indefinite strike set to commence on Monday, June 3, 2024.

The Guardian reports that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) declared a nationwide strike over a proposed new minimum wage on Friday after a meeting between the tripartite of Labour, Organised Private Sector (OPS) and the Federal Government once again failed to reach an agreement on a new minimum wage and reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, in an interview, had appealed to Labour that industrial action was not the solution to the ongoing negotiation for a new minimum wage for workers.

“The government is pleading with labour to reconsider its position. The FG has already made an offer of N60,000, and whatever the government does is in the interest of Nigerians,” Mohammed said.

“We won’t like to do something that will throw the country into another problem. Even as we do that, we are pleading with labour. They are partners in this project called ‘Nigeria’ and we expect them to join hands with the FG as it strives to look for solutions that will take Nigeria to the desired prosperity.”

Mohammed explained that the need to find common ground was the reason for setting up the tripartite committee in the first place and pleaded that the unions should not allow the progress they had made so far to be eroded.

He added that he was optimistic an agreement could still be reached with them.

He said, “Our message is that of an appeal and the need for labour to see reason with the government. That was even the basis for setting up the tripartite committee made up of organised labour, the sub-nationals, and the FG. This was because the government just didn’t want to make unilateral decisions.

“In any case, the position on the wage regime is not a one-sided thing. We expect that they will see reason with the government. That is why we are calling on them to show understanding by not embarking on the strike because we don’t want that at this point. A strike is not the solution to our problem. We are continuing our negotiations with them. The minister and other stakeholders are still talking to them and we believe that we will find common ground.”

Despite these appeals, the leadership of the NLC and TUC has maintained their decision to proceed with the industrial action as of the time of this report.

Blackout expected nationwide
Reacting to the organised labour planned strike, the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has also directed its members to comply with the directive, as disclosed in an official letter signed by the union’s acting general secretary, Dominic Igwebike.

Igwebike, in the letter, called on all executives to mobilise their members to comply with the directive, adding that withdrawal of services becomes effective at midnight on Sunday, June 2.

Maritime declares support
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has announced its readiness to ensure total compliance with the directives of the organised labour union.

MWUN spokesperson John Kennedy Ikemefuna, in a statement issued on Saturday, June 1, 2024, said the maritime workers are set to comply fully with the NLC/TUC declared industrial action.

“In view of the foregoing, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria has directed its members at all ports nationwide, jetties, terminals, and oil and gas platforms to effectively ensure total compliance with the strike as directed by the NLC and TUC,” Ikemefuna said.

“This is also to serve as a notice to all our concerned stakeholders in the maritime sector,” the statement further read.

FG insensitive — NUPENG
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has also directed its members to comply with the directive of the two labour centres to begin an indefinite nationwide strike on Monday.

The Guardian reports that NUPENG members largely control activities in the midstream and downstream arms of the oil sector.

NUPENG General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, said in a statement that the union was committed to ensuring total compliance with the directive.

Afolabi said the union was concerned and disturbed with the insensitive attitude of the federal government “to the very critical issue of negotiating a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers”.

“This is in view of the various socio-economic policies of this administration that have impoverished the working people of this country. Leaders of our great union at all levels, from the units, zones, and branches, should immediately put all processes in place to ensure total compliance with this directive.”

Total compliance — PENGASSAN
The General Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Lumumba Okugbawa, in a letter to the association’s members, directed total compliance to the strike action.

The letter by PENGASSAN read in part, “Following the directives from our umbrella body, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, on the above subject, you are hereby directed to withdraw your services from all work locations effective Monday, June 3, 2024.

“The withdrawal of members includes offices, logistics base, field operations, terminal operations, loading points, etc. The only exception is personnel manning for safety.

“The above is as a result of the breakdown of the discussion on the national minimum wage between the government and organised labour, as government is not desirous of offering an acceptable minimum wage that could address the current economic challenges plaguing the country’s workforce.

“We expect a total compliance as anything to the contrary will be viewed as sabotage of the struggle, which will attract the necessary sanctions.”

PENGASSAN, the Guardian reports, handles the bulk of the upstream activities in the oil and gas sector.