The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have threatened to embark on a nationwide strike from October 16 if the Federal Government fails to meet with them over the issue of the new minimum wage.
The Labour Unions made the statement in a meeting with the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) in Abuja, warning that the country’s industrial peace could not be guaranteed if the government failed to meet their demands.
Workers in the Public Sector have shown their frustration over the inability of the Federal Government and organized labour to reach an agreement on the new minimum wage that was put into effect over six months ago.
In a joint statement signed by the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, TUC President, Quadri Olaleye, and Acting Chairman of JNPSNC (Trade Union Side), Simon Anchaver, the Unions said that they had been patient enough with the government.
The nonchalant attitude of the government negotiating side has dragged negotiations for consequential wages adjustment unduly. The offer by government for salary adjustment of 11 per cent for public workers on salary grade levels 07-14 and 6.5 per cent consequential increase for public workers on grade levels 15-17 is not acceptable to Nigerian workers.
We view the position of government as a show of insensitivity to the general plight of workers and an attempt to collect with the left hand what government has offered with the right hand. We demand the reconvening of the meeting of the committee negotiating the consequential adjustment with a view to concluding the process that started on May 28 within one week.
… We demand immediate implementation of the signed agreement on consequential adjustment of public workers’ salaries with effect from April 18 when the new national minimum wage of N30,000 per worker was signed into law.Labour Unions – pmnewsnigeria.com
