Labour unions have asked their branches across the country
to get set for an industrial nationwide action ahead of the expiration of the
ultimatum issued by labour unions over the minimum wage implementation,
Labour leaders issued a communiqué, warning that economic
activities would be shut down on October 16th 2019 if the federal government failed
to reconvene a meeting of the committee on consequential adjustments of workers
salaries based on the new minimum wage.
The unions, led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), also
insisted that the government should hold a final meeting on October 15 to
resolve the disagreements. The federal government and the unions have met on
different occasions to deliberate and resolve the minimum wage
controversy.
The latest meeting was held on Wednesday. After the first
phase of negotiations collapsed due to percentage differences between the two
parties, the federal government’s negotiating team and the Joint National
Public Service Negotiating Council, which is representing labour unions in the
negotiation, are scheduled to meet again on October 15.
The meetings notwithstanding, labour unions are preparing
for a strike action should their demands not be met. The General Secretary of
Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council, Alade Lawal, last week said
mobilisation of workers for a possible industrial action after October 16 had
reached an advanced stage.
He said the partial implementation of the minimum wage for
levels one to six was a ‘divide and rule’ system that would be vehemently
opposed by labour. In furtherance to the union’s threat, the General Secretary
of the NLC, Emma Ugbiaja, has now asked the union’s members to prepare for
industrial action should no agreement be reached by Wednesday.
”You will recall that a joint Communique… said industrial harmony could not be
guaranteed in the country should an agreement not be reached with the Federal
Government on the Consequential Adjustment of Salaries as a result of the New
National Minimum Wage of N30,000,”
”You are hereby directed to coordinate preparations with TUC
and JPSNC in your State for necessary industrial action should the time expire
without an agreement as contained in the communique” the letter by Mr Ugbiaja
to the union’s members reads.
