The Organised Labour has announced a five-day suspension of the nationwide strike, which began on Monday. The decision comes after a productive meeting between Labour leaders and government officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, George Akume, on Monday.
According to a reliable source within the Labour leadership, the suspension is aimed at creating an enabling environment for uninterrupted negotiations with the tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage. The committee comprises representatives from the government, labour unions, and the private sector.
The meeting on Monday reportedly made significant progress, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu demonstrating his commitment to a new minimum wage higher than the initially proposed ₦60,000. This development has raised hopes for a possible resolution to the minimum wage impasse.
The five-day suspension of the strike will allow for intense negotiations between the tripartite committee and the labour unions, with the goal of reaching a mutually acceptable agreement on the new minimum wage. The suspension is seen as a positive step towards resolving the dispute and averting further disruptions to the nation’s economy.
The labour unions have been demanding a minimum wage of ₦494,000, while the government has offered a 100% increase from the current wage of ₦30,000, which is ₦60,000. The strike, which began on Monday, had crippled economic activities across the country.
The development is being closely watched by Nigerians, who are eager for a resolution to the dispute. The outcome of the tripartite committee meeting will determine the next course of action by the labour unions and the government.
