Minimum wage: Labour orders nationwide strike
As As meeting meeting with with FG FG deadlocked deadlocked
Everest Everest Amaefule Amaefule , , Adelani Adelani Adepegba Adepegba , , Ade Ade Adesomoju Adesomoju , , Olaleye Olaleye Aluko Aluko , , Tony Tony Okafor Okafor and and Ogbonnaya OgbonnayaIkokwu Ikokwu
The Nigeria Nigeria Labour Labour Congress Congress has has directed directed all all its its members members and and affiliate affiliate unions unions to to commence commence a a nationwide nationwide strike strike on on Thursday Thursday ( ( today today ) ) . .
The The organised organised labour labour had had held held a a meeting meeting with with the the Minister Minister of of Labour Labour and and Employment Employment , , Chris Chris Ngige Ngige , , in in Abuja Abuja on on Wednesday Wednesday , , which which did did not not produce produce the the expected expected outcome outcome . .
The The NLC NLC President President , , Ayuba Ayuba Wabba Wabba , , said said the the industrial industrial action action would would commence commence due due to to the the refusal refusal of of the the Federal Federal Government Government to to reconvene reconvene the the meeting meeting of of the the tripartite tripartite national national minimum minimum wage wage committee committee to to enable enable it it to to conclude conclude its its work work . .
He He said said , , “ “ In In compliance compliance with with this this mandate mandate , , all all workers workers and and private private sector sector at at all all levels levels across across the the country country have have been been directed directed to to comply comply . .
“ “ All All public public and and private private institutions institutions , , offices offices , , banks banks , , schools schools , , public public and and private private business business premises premises , , including includingfilling filling station station , , are are to to remain remain shut shut till till further further notice notice , , ” ” Wabba Wabba said said at at a a news news conference conference in in Abuja Abuja on on Wednesday Wednesday . .
The The workers workers are are demanding demanding a anew new minimum minimum wage wage of of about about N N 50 50 , , 000 000 from from the the current current national national minimum minimum wage wage of of N N 18 18 , , 000 000 . .
However , , Ngige Ngige told told journalists journalists after after a a meeting meeting with with labour labour leaders leaders that that the the tripartite tripartite committee committee on on national national minimum minimum wage wage would would resume resume negotiations negotiations on on October October 4 4 . .
“ “ We We are are resuming resuming precisely precisely on on Thursday Thursday , , October October 4 4 , ,and and the the meeting meeting can can spill spill over overto to October October 5 5 . . All All the the processes processes have have been been put put in in place place and and labour labour leaders leaders know know ; ; they they are are now now expected expected to to communicate communicate such such to to their their organs organs ; ; so so we we don don ’ ’ t t have have any any need need for for a a strike strike , , ” ” he he said said . .
Asked Asked if if the the government government team team had had concluded concluded its its consultation consultation on on the the minimum minimum wage wage with with governors governors , , Ngige Ngige said said it it would would be be done done when when the the tripartite tripartite committee committee resumed resumed , , adding adding that that the the government government was was still still consulting consulting with with other other stakeholders stakeholders . .
He He said said , , “ “ Part Part of of our our consultation consultation means means the the economic economic management management team team would would have have something something to to work work on on . . Already Already , , they they are are working working on on it it , , the the National National Salaries Salaries , , Incomes Incomes and and Wages Wages Commission Commission is is working working on on it it and and it it is is expected expected that that before before the the October October meeting meeting , , they they would would have have been been through through with with work work . . ” ”
Ngige Ngige said said a a bill billwould would still still have have to to go go through through the the National National Assembly Assembly after after approval approval by by the the Federal Federal Executive Executive Council Council . .
But But Wabba Wabba said said the the unions unions had had to to brief brief their their organs organs before before calling calling off off the the strike strike . .
He He said said , , “ “ Our Our demand demand is is that that the the tripartite tripartite negotiating negotiating council council should should be be brought brought back back to to complete complete its its assignment assignment . . He He has has given given us us an an update update and and we we are are taking taking back back the the discussion discussion we we had had with with him him . . ” ”
But But the the NLC NLC Secretary Secretary - - General General , , Dr Dr Peter Peter Ozo Ozo - - Eson Eson , , told told one one of of our our correspondents correspondents that that the the strike strike would would proceed proceed as as planned planned , ,
He He asked asked , , “ “ Have Have we we said said anything anything to to the the contrary contrary ?” ?”
NUPENG , , COEASU COEASU , , JUSUN JUSUN workers workers to to join join strike strike
The The Petroleum Petroleum and and Natural Natural Gas Gas Senior Senior Staff Staff Association Association of of Nigeria Nigeria said said it it would would join join the the strike strike as as long long as as its its labour labour centre centre – – the the Trade Trade Union Union Congress Congress – – was was involved involved . .
The The spokesman spokesman for for the the organisation organisation , , Mr Mr Babatunde Babatunde Oke Oke , , said said , , “ “ We We are are going going to to be be part part of of it it . . As As long long as as our our labour labour centre centre is is involved involved , , we we are are also alsoinvolved involved . . We We are are going going to to take take part part in in the the strike strike if if TUC TUCso sodirects directs us us . . ” ”
Also Also , , the the national national leadership leadership of of the the Judiciary Judiciary Staff Staff Union Union of of Nigeria Nigeria directed directed its its members members to to join jointhe the warning warning strike strike . .
The The President President of of JUSUN JUSUN , , Mr Mr Marwan Marwan Adamu Adamu , , said said in in a a statement statement on on Wednesday Wednesday that that “ “ effective effective from from midnight midnight on on Wednesday Wednesday ” ” all all courts courts in in the the country country must must remain remain closed closed pending pending a a counter counter instruction instruction from from the the national national secretariat secretariat of of the the union union . . ” ”
On Onits its part part , , the the Colleges Colleges of of Education Education Academic Academic Staff Staff Union Union said said that that it it would would embark embark on on the the warning warning strike strike in in solidarity solidarity with with the the NLC NLC . .
The The COEASU COEASU National National President President , , Nuhu Nuhu Ogirima Ogirima , , said said , , “ “ The The academic academic union union will will join join the the strike strike because because it it has has become become evident evident that that dialogue dialogue and and diplomacy diplomacy would would not not make make the the government government change change its its stance stance . .
He He said said , , “ “ It It is is also also expedient expedient to to take take this this action action against against the the crass crass insensitivity insensitivity of of governments governments at at both both state state and and federal federal levels levels to to the the plight plight of of the the colleges colleges of of education education . . ” ”
ASUU ASUU to to consult consult with with leadership leadership
But But the the Academic Academic Staff Staff Union Union of of Universities Universities said said it it would would consult consult with with its its leadership leadership and and trustees trustees before before joining joining the the strike strike . .
The The ASUU ASUU National National President President , , Prof Prof . . Biodun Biodun Ogunyemi Ogunyemi , , told told one one of of our our correspondents correspondents on on the the telephone telephone on on Wednesday Wednesday that that he he could could not not decide decide without without an an approval approval from from the the ASUU ASUU executives executives and and trustees trustees . .
Ogunyemi Ogunyemi said said , , “ “ We We are are part part of of the the NLC NLC . . We We are are an an affiliate affiliate of of the the NLC NLC . . But But we we are are waiting waiting for for the the final final decision decision and and we we are are consulting consulting . . I I am am also also consulting consulting with with the the ASUU ASUU leadership leadership . . ” ”
But But the the Owerri Owerri Zonal Zonal Coordinator Coordinator of of ASUU ASUU , , Prof Prof Uzo Uzo Onyebinama Onyebinama , , during during a a press press conference conference at at the the Nnamdi Nnamdi Azikiwe Azikiwe University University , , Awka Awka , , Anambra Anambra State State , , on on Wednesday Wednesday said said the the union union might mightjoin join the the strike strike . .
‘ ‘ Abia Abia workers workersto to comply comply ’ ’
In In Abia Abia State State , , the the Chairman Chairman of of the the NLC NLC , , Chief Chief Uchenna Uchenna Obigwe Obigwe directed directed federal federal and and state state government government workers workers in in the the state state to to comply comply with with the the directive directive to to embark embark on on the the strike strike . .
Obigwe Obigwe , , while while briefing briefing journalists journalists in in Umuahia Umuahia , , said said the the NLC NLC viewed viewed the the silence silence of of the the Federal Federal Government Government to to its its demand demand for for a a new new minimum minimum wage wage as as sabotage sabotage . .
FG FG , , NLC NLC must must consider consider national national interests interests – – SERAP SERAP
Meanwhile Meanwhile , , a a civil civil society society organisation organisation , , the the Socio Socio - - Economic Economic Rights Rights and and Accountability Accountability Project Project , , has has warned warned that that the the nation nation ’ ’ s s economy economy would would be be negatively negatively affected affected by by the the strike strike , , urging urging the the NLC NLC and and the the Federal Federal Government Government to to consider consider the the national national interests interests . .
The The SERAP SERAP Director Director , , Adetokunbo Adetokunbo Mumuni Mumuni , , said said , , “ “ In In Nigeria Nigeria , , strikes strikes are are not not an an option option ; ; a astrike strike will will stop stop the the economy economy and and further further impoverish impoverish Nigerians Nigerians . . What What I I seek seek is is that that the the government government should should settle settle the the minimum minimum wage wage issue issue so so that that our our economy economy can can continue continue to to operate operate at at a a full full speed speed . .
“ “ The The NLC NLC should should also also consider consider the the interests interests of of the the workers workers and and of of the the nation nation and and resolve resolve this this issue issue quickly quickly . . ” ”
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Everest Everest Amaefule Amaefule , , Adelani Adelani Adepegba Adepegba , , Ade Ade Adesomoju Adesomoju , , Olaleye Olaleye Aluko Aluko , , Tony Tony Okafor Okafor and and Ogbonnaya OgbonnayaIkokwu Ikokwu
The The organised organised labour labour had had held held a a meeting meeting with with the the Minister Minister of of Labour Labour and and Employment Employment , , Chris Chris Ngige Ngige , , in in Abuja Abuja on on Wednesday Wednesday , , which which did did not not produce produce the the expected expected outcome outcome . .
The The NLC NLC President President , , Ayuba Ayuba Wabba Wabba , , said said the the industrial industrial action action would would commence commence due due to to the the refusal refusal of of the the Federal Federal Government Government to to reconvene reconvene the the meeting meeting of of the the tripartite tripartite national national minimum minimum wage wage committee committee to to enable enable it it to to conclude conclude its its work work . .
He He said said , , “ “ In In compliance compliance with with this this mandate mandate , , all all workers workers and and private private sector sector at at all all levels levels across across the the country country have have been been directed directed to to comply comply . .
“ “ All All public public and and private private institutions institutions , , offices offices , , banks banks , , schools schools , , public public and and private private business business premises premises , , including includingfilling filling station station , , are are to to remain remain shut shut till till further further notice notice , , ” ” Wabba Wabba said said at at a a news news conference conference in in Abuja Abuja on on Wednesday Wednesday . .
The The workers workers are are demanding demanding a anew new minimum minimum wage wage of of about about N N 50 50 , , 000 000 from from the the current current national national minimum minimum wage wage of of N N 18 18 , , 000 000 . .
However , , Ngige Ngige told told journalists journalists after after a a meeting meeting with with labour labour leaders leaders that that the the tripartite tripartite committee committee on on national national minimum minimum wage wage would would resume resume negotiations negotiations on on October October 4 4 . .
“ “ We We are are resuming resuming precisely precisely on on Thursday Thursday , , October October 4 4 , ,and and the the meeting meeting can can spill spill over overto to October October 5 5 . . All All the the processes processes have have been been put put in in place place and and labour labour leaders leaders know know ; ; they they are are now now expected expected to to communicate communicate such such to to their their organs organs ; ; so so we we don don ’ ’ t t have have any any need need for for a a strike strike , , ” ” he he said said . .
Asked Asked if if the the government government team team had had concluded concluded its its consultation consultation on on the the minimum minimum wage wage with with governors governors , , Ngige Ngige said said it it would would be be done done when when the the tripartite tripartite committee committee resumed resumed , , adding adding that that the the government government was was still still consulting consulting with with other other stakeholders stakeholders . .
He He said said , , “ “ Part Part of of our our consultation consultation means means the the economic economic management management team team would would have have something something to to work work on on . . Already Already , , they they are are working working on on it it , , the the National National Salaries Salaries , , Incomes Incomes and and Wages Wages Commission Commission is is working working on on it it and and it it is is expected expected that that before before the the October October meeting meeting , , they they would would have have been been through through with with work work . . ” ”
Ngige Ngige said said a a bill billwould would still still have have to to go go through through the the National National Assembly Assembly after after approval approval by by the the Federal Federal Executive Executive Council Council . .
But But Wabba Wabba said said the the unions unions had had to to brief brief their their organs organs before before calling calling off off the the strike strike . .
He He said said , , “ “ Our Our demand demand is is that that the the tripartite tripartite negotiating negotiating council council should should be be brought brought back back to to complete complete its its assignment assignment . . He He has has given given us us an an update update and and we we are are taking taking back back the the discussion discussion we we had had with with him him . . ” ”
But But the the NLC NLC Secretary Secretary - - General General , , Dr Dr Peter Peter Ozo Ozo - - Eson Eson , , told told one one of of our our correspondents correspondents that that the the strike strike would would proceed proceed as as planned planned , ,
He He asked asked , , “ “ Have Have we we said said anything anything to to the the contrary contrary ?” ?”
NUPENG , , COEASU COEASU , , JUSUN JUSUN workers workers to to join join strike strike
The The Petroleum Petroleum and and Natural Natural Gas Gas Senior Senior Staff Staff Association Association of of Nigeria Nigeria said said it it would would join join the the strike strike as as long long as as its its labour labour centre centre – – the the Trade Trade Union Union Congress Congress – – was was involved involved . .
The The spokesman spokesman for for the the organisation organisation , , Mr Mr Babatunde Babatunde Oke Oke , , said said , , “ “ We We are are going going to to be be part part of of it it . . As As long long as as our our labour labour centre centre is is involved involved , , we we are are also alsoinvolved involved . . We We are are going going to to take take part part in in the the strike strike if if TUC TUCso sodirects directs us us . . ” ”
Also Also , , the the national national leadership leadership of of the the Judiciary Judiciary Staff Staff Union Union of of Nigeria Nigeria directed directed its its members members to to join jointhe the warning warning strike strike . .
The The President President of of JUSUN JUSUN , , Mr Mr Marwan Marwan Adamu Adamu , , said said in in a a statement statement on on Wednesday Wednesday that that “ “ effective effective from from midnight midnight on on Wednesday Wednesday ” ” all all courts courts in in the the country country must must remain remain closed closed pending pending a a counter counter instruction instruction from from the the national national secretariat secretariat of of the the union union . . ” ”
On Onits its part part , , the the Colleges Colleges of of Education Education Academic Academic Staff Staff Union Union said said that that it it would would embark embark on on the the warning warning strike strike in in solidarity solidarity with with the the NLC NLC . .
The The COEASU COEASU National National President President , , Nuhu Nuhu Ogirima Ogirima , , said said , , “ “ The The academic academic union union will will join join the the strike strike because because it it has has become become evident evident that that dialogue dialogue and and diplomacy diplomacy would would not not make make the the government government change change its its stance stance . .
He He said said , , “ “ It It is is also also expedient expedient to to take take this this action action against against the the crass crass insensitivity insensitivity of of governments governments at at both both state state and and federal federal levels levels to to the the plight plight of of the the colleges colleges of of education education . . ” ”
ASUU ASUU to to consult consult with with leadership leadership
But But the the Academic Academic Staff Staff Union Union of of Universities Universities said said it it would would consult consult with with its its leadership leadership and and trustees trustees before before joining joining the the strike strike . .
The The ASUU ASUU National National President President , , Prof Prof . . Biodun Biodun Ogunyemi Ogunyemi , , told told one one of of our our correspondents correspondents on on the the telephone telephone on on Wednesday Wednesday that that he he could could not not decide decide without without an an approval approval from from the the ASUU ASUU executives executives and and trustees trustees . .
Ogunyemi Ogunyemi said said , , “ “ We We are are part part of of the the NLC NLC . . We We are are an an affiliate affiliate of of the the NLC NLC . . But But we we are are waiting waiting for for the the final final decision decision and and we we are are consulting consulting . . I I am am also also consulting consulting with with the the ASUU ASUU leadership leadership . . ” ”
But But the the Owerri Owerri Zonal Zonal Coordinator Coordinator of of ASUU ASUU , , Prof Prof Uzo Uzo Onyebinama Onyebinama , , during during a a press press conference conference at at the the Nnamdi Nnamdi Azikiwe Azikiwe University University , , Awka Awka , , Anambra Anambra State State , , on on Wednesday Wednesday said said the the union union might mightjoin join the the strike strike . .
‘ ‘ Abia Abia workers workersto to comply comply ’ ’
In In Abia Abia State State , , the the Chairman Chairman of of the the NLC NLC , , Chief Chief Uchenna Uchenna Obigwe Obigwe directed directed federal federal and and state state government government workers workers in in the the state state to to comply comply with with the the directive directive to to embark embark on on the the strike strike . .
Obigwe Obigwe , , while while briefing briefing journalists journalists in in Umuahia Umuahia , , said said the the NLC NLC viewed viewed the the silence silence of of the the Federal Federal Government Government to to its its demand demand for for a a new new minimum minimum wage wage as as sabotage sabotage . .
FG FG , , NLC NLC must must consider consider national national interests interests – – SERAP SERAP
Meanwhile Meanwhile , , a a civil civil society society organisation organisation , , the the Socio Socio - - Economic Economic Rights Rights and and Accountability Accountability Project Project , , has has warned warned that that the the nation nation ’ ’ s s economy economy would would be be negatively negatively affected affected by by the the strike strike , , urging urging the the NLC NLC and and the the Federal Federal Government Government to to consider consider the the national national interests interests . .
The The SERAP SERAP Director Director , , Adetokunbo Adetokunbo Mumuni Mumuni , , said said , , “ “ In In Nigeria Nigeria , , strikes strikes are are not not an an option option ; ; a astrike strike will will stop stop the the economy economy and and further further impoverish impoverish Nigerians Nigerians . . What What I I seek seek is is that that the the government government should should settle settle the the minimum minimum wage wage issue issue so so that that our our economy economy can can continue continue to to operate operate at at a a full full speed speed . .
“ “ The The NLC NLC should should also also consider consider the the interests interests of of the the workers workers and and of of the the nation nation and and resolve resolve this this issue issue quickly quickly . . ” ”
We bring the news to you as it comes.....
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