Nationwide Strike Looms: Labour Unions Stand Firm on ₦250,000 Minimum Wage, Give FG Tuesday Deadline

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have firmly rejected the proposed minimum wages of ₦62,000 and ₦100,000, labeling them as “starvation wages.” The unions are adamant about their demand for a ₦250,000 minimum wage and have set a deadline for the government to act by Tuesday, June 11, 2024, failing which they may resume their recently suspended strike.

Chris Onyeka, Assistant General Secretary of the NLC, made this stance clear during an appearance on Channels Television’s “The Morning Brief” on Monday. “We have never considered accepting ₦62,000 or any other wage that we know is below what is needed to sustain Nigerian workers,” Onyeka said, emphasizing that ₦250,000 is their final concession, reflecting the realities of the marketplace.

The unions had initially proposed ₦615,000 but reduced their demand to ₦494,000 before settling at ₦250,000 during recent negotiations. Despite these concessions, the government’s offer remains at ₦62,000, a figure Onyeka describes as insufficient to meet basic living costs.

Onyeka reiterated that if the Federal Government and National Assembly do not meet their demands by Tuesday, the NLC and TUC will convene to decide on the resumption of the nationwide strike that was relaxed last week. “If we do not see any tangible response from the government by tomorrow, the organs of the Organised Labour will meet to decide on the next steps,” he stated.

The dispute follows weeks of failed negotiations and a subsequent strike that began on June 3, 2024, leading to the shutdown of key sectors including airports, hospitals, and banks. The current minimum wage of ₦30,000, set in 2019, is widely regarded as inadequate given the current economic climate.

President Bola Tinubu had established a tripartite committee in January 2024 to negotiate a new minimum wage, but talks have been fraught with disagreements. The labour unions’ persistent demands reflect the urgent need for a wage that can support the average Nigerian worker amid rising living costs.

As the deadline looms, all eyes are on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to see if they will act to prevent the resumption of industrial action, which could have significant implications for the country’s economy and workforce.