ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The planned strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the contentious minimum wage has sparked anxiety among some Nigerians.
The NLC had threatened to shut down the country for one month to protest plans by the National Assembly to deregulate the national minimum wage.
However, the African Network for Peace, Progress, and Development (ANPPD) pleaded with the NLC to reconsider its proposed industrial action.
In a statement, ANPPD President Elias Odoemena urged the NLC to always consider the plight of millions of Nigerians outside the government payroll who would suffer from the strike.
Mr Odoemena argued that the problem facing Nigerian workers went beyond the minimum wage. He emphasised the need to find solutions that would enable workers to manage their finances wisely.
He suggested that the NLC should engage with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima on reducing electricity bills and the cost of petroleum products to ease the financial burden on Nigerians.
He recalled the prolonged strike by university lecturers, which he said yielded no fruit and required the intervention of then-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, to resolve.
Mr Odoemena advised the government to form a committee comprising traditional rulers, civil society representatives, and labour officials to explore ways to reduce the cost of living in Nigeria. He promised to submit a list of recommendations to the president, urging all parties to prioritise dialogue over disruptive action.
