The Federal Government is currently holding a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and other stakeholders over the planned nationwide 7-day warning strike expected to commence midnight Wednesday, September 26.
The meeting holding in Abuja follows a warning by organised labour to commence a warning strike starting from midnight over alleged delays by the Federal Government in implementing the new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
The Nigeria Labour Congress had on Tuesday directed workers to proceed on a nationwide warning strike with effect from Thursday.
This followed the delay in negotiations for a new minimum wage by the Federal Government
General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Dr Peter Ozo-Eson, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, directed all industrial unions in the country and state councils to immediately begin the mobilisation of their members in readiness for the warning strike.
It read, “This is to inform you that the organised labour shall commence a nationwide warning strike in respect of the non-implementation of the National Minimum Wage effective midnight of Wednesday, September 26, 2018.
“All industrial unions and all state councils are to commence mobilisation immediately for an effective strike action nationwide. A formal notification letter will be sent later in the day.”
President Muhammadu Buhari had in November 2017, inaugurated a tripartite committee to negotiate a new national minimum wage for the country.
The government had assured workers that the committee, which began sitting in March 2018, would conclude its work by the end of this month.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who assured the workers of a new wage by the end of the third quarter, later announced that the committee had yet to finalise its work.
He stated that the government needed more time to consult before arriving at a figure which would be discussed by the committee.
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