Strike: Very soon peace won’t be an option – Labour threatens FG over Minimum Wage

The Organized Labour has issued a deadline to the Federal Government, urging them to finalize the implementation of the new national minimum wage for workers by the end of May.

The demand was put forth by Mr. Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, during the 2024 edition of the International Workers Day held in Abuja.

Should the negotiation process not be completed by the conclusion of May, Ajaero cautioned that industrial peace in Nigeria might be disrupted.

He emphasized that the discussions surrounding the establishment of a new national minimum wage are still ongoing and have involved extensive deliberations.

Ajaero also highlighted that labour has called for a two-year duration for the new Act, with provisions for automatic adjustments in wages if inflation surpasses 7.5 percent.

Furthermore, he underscored the union’s demand that all employers with a workforce of five employees or more comply with the new minimum wage regulations.

Ajaero emphasized the need to enhance monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to penalize state governments that fail to adhere to the regulations.

He stressed that Nigerian workers are entitled to a national minimum wage that reflects a standard of living wage.

“All parties in the tripartite process are well represented and the engagement has been robust.

“We have placed our demand of N615, 000 only before our social partners while we await their offer.

“If, however, the negotiation of the minimum wage is not concluded by the end of May, the trade union movement in Nigeria will no longer guarantee industrial peace in the country,” he said.