Victor Ezeja
Organised labour in Nigeria has suspended its nationwide strike for one week over unresolved issues about a new national minimum wage and the hike in electricity tariff.
Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) President, Festus Osifo, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja after a joint extraordinary National Executive Council meeting of the TUC and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Join our WhatsApp ChannelOsifo said the industrial action is suspended for one week to allow for the conclusion of ongoing negotiations.
READ ALSO: Nationwide Strike: Is Labour Serious This Time?
The two unions had on Monday embarked on an industrial action, which ground socioeconomic activities across the country. They later had a meeting with the Federal Government on Monday evening under the auspices of the Tripartite Committee set up for the review of minimum wage. The Federal Government had in the meeting committed to a minimum wage above N60,000.
In a communique signed by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and TUC President, Festus Osifo, the labour unions said they deliberated on the promise of the Federal Government to offer a minimum wage above N60,000, the demand for reversal of electricity tariff hike and classification of customers into bands.
The communique said the labour unions recognized the need “to create the right ambience for negotiation to continue unhindered and therefore decided to relax the strike action for one week starting from today (Tuesday), “to allow Federal Government commit to a concrete and acceptable National Minimum Wage; take definitive steps to
reverse the electricity tariff hike back to N66/kwh and abolish the discriminatory classification of electricity consumers into Bands.”
It added that the NLC and TUC National Leadership will continue to maintain open channels of communication with the Federal Government to negotiate and secure favourable outcomes for Nigerian workers and people.
They directed all their affiliate unions and State Councils to Relax the indefinite and return to their respective workplaces immediately.
The NLC and TUC NEC expressed gratitude to Nigerian workers and the general public for their unwavering support and solidarity in this critical struggle for improved living and working conditions.
“The NLC and TUC remain committed to pursuing all necessary actions to protect all Nigerian people workers: we urge all to await the rights and welfare further directives while the negotiation continues,” it added.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
