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The
Organised Labour has called on workers from all sectors of the economy
to comply with the seven days nationwide warning strike over refusal of
the Federal Government to reconvene the negotiation on Minimum Wage.
The
Organised Labour has called on workers from all sectors of the economy
to comply with the seven days nationwide warning strike over refusal of
the Federal Government to reconvene the negotiation on Minimum Wage.
Ayuba Wabba, President, Nigeria Labour Congress, made the call at a
joint news conference organised by NLC, Trade Union Congress and United
Labour Congress on Wednesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the organised labour had accused the Federal Government of stalling the negotiation by failing to mention a figure as a new minimum wage for workers in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the organised labour had accused the Federal Government of stalling the negotiation by failing to mention a figure as a new minimum wage for workers in the country.
The organised labour had also on
September 12 issued the Federal Government a 14-day ultimatum insisting
that the Tripartite Committee on the new National Minimum Wage should
conclude its work within the stipulated time frame.
The Organised
Labour said it would commence nationwide warning strike over the
non-implementation of the new National Minimum Wage with effect from
midnight of Wednesday, September 26.
According to Wabba, the action
is in compliance with the decision of the various organs of the
organised labour, which endorsed the 14-day ultimatum served on the
Federal Government by member of the unions who were part of the
negotiation committee.
He said: “The labour further mandated its
leadership to take all necessary steps to ensure compliance
with the warning strike in the first instance.
“This is to compel the government to reconvene the meeting of the committee in order to bring it to a logical conclusion.
“In compliance with this mandate, all workers in the public and private
sectors at all levels across the country have been directed to join the
strike.
“Industrial unions, state councils, all workers
organisation and our civil society allies have been directed to step up
mobilisation of their members.”
He also said that public and private
institutions, offices, banks, schools, public and private business
premises including filling stations are to remain shut till further
notice.
Wabba said that all those who mean well for the country and
want to see to the success of the action should cooperate with labour,
saying that the action would remain in force until further directive are
given.
The NLC president noted that the justification for the new national minimum wage cannot be over argued.
He said: “We do believe that the reasons governors find it difficult to
pay the national minimum wage are lack of political will, high level of
corruption, excessive cost of governance, white elephants projects and
among others.
“In any case, we are commending the governors that
have indicated their readiness to pay the new national minimum wage and
we advise those who are not prepared to pay to go back to their state
and tell the workers in their state that they would not pay.
“We,
therefore, find it necessary to caution against any attempt by
government at any level to blackmail workers or/and their unions because
we have been patient, considerate and patriotic.
“Indeed government had to commend workers and their union for waiting patiently for two years before commencing negotiations for a new National Minimum wage.
“We advise that our disposition should not be taken for granted.’’
“Indeed government had to commend workers and their union for waiting patiently for two years before commencing negotiations for a new National Minimum wage.
“We advise that our disposition should not be taken for granted.’’
Rostrum also reports that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator
Chris Ngige, would be meeting with Organised Labour over the nationwide
warning strike.
The National Minimum Wage Committee was inaugurated in November 2017 and commenced sitting in March 2018 with a timeline to deliver on its mandate of arriving at a new national minimum wage by September 2018.
