The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has clarified its position on the potential nationwide strike in response to the ongoing conflict with the government over the new minimum wage. According to Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC, organised labour will not go on strike tomorrow.
Ajaero explained the decision, stating that since President Bola Tinubu now has the proposed figures and is expected to respond, the labour union will hold off on striking. This announcement was made during Ajaero’s speech on Monday at the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland.
Ajaero noted that it is still possible for President Tinubu to increase the recommended amount, referencing previous administrations’ adjustments.
However, Ajaero criticized state governors for claiming they cannot afford the ₦62,000 new minimum wage proposed by the federal government. He called these governors “lazy” and argued against their calls for the decentralization of the minimum wage.
In his words, “We cannot declare a strike now because the figures are with the President. During the tenure of the immediate past President, the figure proposed was ₦27,000 by the tripartite committee, but he increased it to ₦30,000. We are hopeful that this President will do the right thing. The President noted that the difference between ₦62,000 and ₦250,000 is a wide gulf.”
Ajaero questioned, “How can any governor say he cannot pay? They cannot also be calling for the decentralization of the minimum wage. Are their wages decentralized? Governors whose states are not contributing a dime to the national purse and who generate pitiable Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) are collecting the same amount as governors whose states are generating billions of dollars into the FAAC. They should decentralize their salaries and emoluments first.”
He praised Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki for paying a ₦70,000 minimum wage, suggesting that other governors should follow Obaseki’s example instead of making excuses.
The Zamfara State Government and the state chapters of the National Labour Congress (NLC) and…
In the ongoing dispute regarding the implementation of the ₦70,000 national minimum wage, Zamfara State…
The Cross River State Government and Organised Labour have reached an agreement on the implementation…
The Abia State Government has strongly refuted claims by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that…
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Sokoto State Chapter has assured local government staff and primary…
The Ondo State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has assured government workers that…