NLC, TUC Adamant, Say Strike Goes on Today, As Negotiation with N’Assembly Fails

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have announced that their planned indefinite strike action will go ahead today, despite ongoing negotiations with the National Assembly regarding their demands. The labor unions are demanding an increase in the minimum wage from the current N30,000 to N66,500 per month.

Senator Godswill Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has warned that the strike action will bring more hardship to Nigerians. Akpabio, who spoke in an interview with the media, stated that the economy is already fragile and cannot withstand another round of industrial action.

However, the General Secretary of the TUC, Musa-Lawal Ozigi, has declared the strike action legal and premature for the government to question its legitimacy. He stated that the labor unions have followed due process in their demands and that the government has failed to respond positively to their requests.

Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has also weighed in on the issue, stating that the demands of the labor unions are not feasible for the states at the moment due to financial constraints. He urged the federal government to find a way to engage with the labor unions and come up with a solution that is beneficial to all parties involved.

The Director-General of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Statistician-General Yemi Kale, has warned that the strike action could have dire economic consequences for the country. He stated that the strike could lead to a decrease in economic activities and a potential increase in inflation rates.

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar III, has appealed to labor to reconsider the strike action and engage in dialogue with the government. He stated that the strike could lead to unnecessary hardships for the masses and urged both parties to find a peaceful resolution to the issue.

It is important to note that the minimum wage increase is a long-standing demand of the labor unions in Nigeria. The current minimum wage of N30,000 was implemented in 2019, and many believe that it is no longer sufficient to meet the needs of the average Nigerian worker. The ongoing negotiations between the labor unions and the National Assembly are aimed at finding a mutually beneficial solution to this issue. However, the decision to go ahead with the strike action despite ongoing negotiations is a contentious one and could have significant economic and political implications for the country.