…N60,000 FG’s offer amounts to loaf of bread daily – Ajaero
By UKPONO UKPONG
The organised labour under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) ant Trade Union Congress (TUC) have announced an indefinite nationwide strike set to commence on June 3.
The strike is in response to the federal government’s failure to conclude the National Minimum Wage negotiation and its refusal to reverse the recent hike in electricity tariff to N65/kwh.
Expressing disappointment over the government’s handling of the negotiations, the two labour centres at a joint press conference yesterday, by the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, and his TUC) counterpart, Festus Osifo, accused the government team of abandoning the negotiations with the Organised labour.
They highlighted the absence of governors and most ministers, emphasizing the lack of commitment from the government’s side.
“Today’s meeting further demonstrated the unseriousness and apparent contempt with which the Nigerian state holds the demands of Nigerian workers and people.
“No Governor was present, and Ministers absent except the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, who doubles as a conciliator. There was none present on the side of the government with appropriate authority to commit them to any outcome; in essence, the government abandoned the meeting.
“We consider this disdainful as it shows a lack of commitment to a successful National Minimum Wage negotiation exercise.” Osifo said.
The NLC and TUC had issued a clear ultimatum during the May Day celebration on May 1, demanding the conclusion of the negotiation by the end of May.
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However, with no significant progress or commitment shown by the government, the labour unions found it necessary to take action.
“We regret the inconvenience this refusal of the federal government to heed our demands may cause all of us, but we assure you of our determination to pursue this cause to its conclusion,” Ajaero affirmed.
Furthermore, Osifo emphasised the importance of fair wages and the right to a decent living for Nigerian workers.
“We also demanded a reversal of the last hike in electricity tariff to N225/kwh back to
N65/kwh and stoppage of the apartheid categorization of consumers into Bands.
“We carried out a nationwide one-day protest on May 13, 2024, giving the government until the last day of this month to take action, but the government has not entirely shown any positive responses despite the national outrage at this insensitive hike.
“Nigerian workers, who are the backbone of our nation’s economy, deserve fair and decent wages that reflect the current economic realities.
“It is disheartening that despite our repeated calls and the clear ultimatum issued, the government continues to neglect its responsibility to the workforce. It has rather than engaged in a dialogue, persistently raised its attack dogs to seek to denigrate and intimidate trade union leaders.
“It continues to remain our belief that the people ought to be the only reason for governance and nothing else. The government must, therefore, seek the welfare of the people at all times, and its refusal to put the people first compels all patriots to take the right step in assisting the government to govern well.
“The hike in electricity tariff impoverishes further the already suffering people and denies them the right to decent living.
“Instead of taking remedial action or engaging in a meaningful dialogue, Nigerians were visited with a barrage of the usual propaganda,” he remarked, pointing out the government’s lack of constructive engagement.
“In light of this persistent inaction, we, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), hereby issue a notice of commencement of an indefinite nationwide strike to the federal government.
“We reiterate that since the National Minimum Wage negotiation exercise has not been concluded and the agreed wage passed into law; the hike in electricity tariff not reversed and categorization of consumers into Bands not stopped as demanded; Nigerian workers are compelled by these failures to embark on an indefinite nationwide industrial action beginning on Monday, June 3, 2024, to press home our demands.”
In solidarity with the cause, the NLC and TUC called on all affiliates, state councils, civil society organizations, market traders, and the general populace to support the strike action.
They emphasized their readiness to ensure that the rights of Nigerian workers are protected and their voices are heard.
The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, echoed the same sentiments, when he sharply criticized the Federal Government’s proposed national minimum wage of N60,000, equating it to a paltry sustenance that falls woefully short of addressing the basic needs of Nigerian workers.
“Government offer of N60,000 national minimum wage amounts to one loaf of bread daily for 30 days,” Ajaero declared, highlighting the glaring inadequacy of the proposed wage in providing for the livelihoods of millions of workers across the country.
With the cost of living on the rise and inflationary pressures mounting, such an offer is deemed wholly insufficient to meet even the most fundamental requirements of individuals and their families.
Ajaero’s comparison underscores the stark reality faced by many Nigerian workers who struggle to make ends meet amidst rising prices and stagnant wages.
The analogy of a single loaf of bread per day serves as a poignant illustration of the meagerness of the proposed wage, emphasizing the dire circumstances confronting workers in their daily lives. It encapsulates the disparity between the government’s offer and the actual needs and aspirations of the labour force, further fueling discontent and frustration among workers who feel undervalued and marginalized.
As the nation braces for the impact of the impending strike, the message from the labor unions is clear: the welfare of Nigerian workers is non-negotiable, and they are prepared to take all necessary steps to press home their demands.
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