L-R: President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, NLC President, Joe Ajaero and his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo at the NASS meeting with organized labour on Sunday
From Victor Osula , Abuja
Organised labour has rejected intervention of the leadership of the National Assembly to avert the nationwide strike called by the Nigeria Labour Congress, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC for Monday.
At the end of the marathon meeting called by President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas on Sunday, organised labour said it was too late in the day to call off the strike after they had delayed hearing the last word from the federal government on the ongoing negotiations on minimum wage and then went ahead to mobilise the rank and file of workers across the affiliate members of the labour union for the strike.
Addressing the participants and journalists the end of the meeting on Sunday night, President of TUC, Festus Osifo, said the leadership of the labour unions would have to take the outcome of the meeting to various organs of the unions for final decision since they, himself and President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, do not have the power to call off the strike.
He said, “We are happy to attend this meeting. But it is not possible for us here to call off the industrial action because there are conditions precedent, which was given to us by our men, that have to be met. We would have been much happier if this evening, the issues bordering on minimum wage were to be signed off by tomorrow morning (Monday). As at the last meeting, we were very slow to sign off the call for strike because what was left after months of meeting was to prepare the figures and sign the agreement.
“But we have listened to them, and we would take their plea to all our organs and have a meeting and relay what promise have been made to us. For now, we do not have the power to call off the industrial action. It would continue while we hold a conversation with our respective organs as soon as possible.”
THEWILL recalls that on Friday, the NLC announced an indefinite nationwide strike set to begin on Monday, June 3, 2024, stating the Federal Government’s refusal to raise the proposed minimum wage above N60,000.
The NLC President Joe Ajaero, stated that the strike follows a breakdown in negotiations between the government and organized labour.
Despite the government’s final offer of N60,000, which was recently increased from an initial N57,000, the labour unions deemed the proposal inadequate and proposed N494,000 as its minimum wage.
Senator Akpabio and Abbas had on Sunday held the meeting with the organized labour in a last-ditch effort to avert the nationwide strike by the labour unions on Monday.
The meeting which had in attendance the leadership of the National Assembly, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, Minister for Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy, Mr Wale Edun among others was held at the National Assembly.
Special Assistant on Media/Communication to the Senate President, Anietie Ekong quoted Senator Akpabio to have told the members of the labour union that the leadership of the National Assembly had to cancel an important engagement to convene the meeting to explore ways to reach a consensus between the government and organized labour.
According to Senator Akpabio, “I do know that Mr President had set up a very serious committee to negotiate with Labour. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Head of Service who are here with us have been deeply involved in the negotiations.
“So, the leadership of both Chambers decided to invite everybody here so we can listen to all parties. We are not taking over the work of the executive. We are not taking over the work of the NLC and TUC. But we just said we should hear from you.
“It is very difficult to negotiate for peace in an atmosphere of crisis. If you are on strike, it means you are no longer negotiating. And the Nigerian people are desirous in having a closure to the issue of the minimum wage.
“And the government too is very eager to meet the yearnings of the people to a reasonable extent based on the current economic realities. Hence there was need for us to call all parties to the table and to hear from you.
“As the People’s Parliament we are also on the side of the people. Above all we are also workers. So, what affects you affects us and what affects us also affects you. I welcome you that you honored this invitation of the 10th National Assembly at very short notice,” he said.
Speaker Abbas in the same vein said the National Assembly is on the side of government and the Labour Unions. “We are on the side of Labour, and we are on the side of the people. That is why we call ourselves the People’s Parliament. Whatever affects the common man affects us too.
“I have said that how this country can eliminate corruption in the long run is to embrace a living wage, there are no two ways about it. But we should also be mindful that the mistakes of several decades cannot be repaired in one day.
“It is going to be a gradual process. We have to start somewhere and then agree to a plan of what we can do to reach that level where every Nigerian worker can beat his chest and say I am earning enough to put food on the table, enough to take care of the basics,” he said.
The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero thanked the leadership of the National Assembly for the intervention and expressed the hope that Nigerian workers would be paid a living wage.
