Minimum wage: Labour debunks Tuesday strike resumption report

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has debunked the news making around that organised labour will resume the recently relaxed indefinite nationwide strike on Tuesday.

The Labour centre said the comment attributed to the Assistant General Secretary of the NLC, Chris Onyeka, is a clear case of misinterpretation of the interaction he had with Channel’s TV presenters earlier in the morning today.

Speaking to our reporter via phone chat, Chris Onyeka, said; “Video clip of my chat with Channel’s TV presenters is there to prove I never said labour may resume strike on Tuesday. They asked me if labour will resume the relaxed nationwide indefinite strike.

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“I told them that since labour and government agree to wrap up the minimum wage negotiations within one week, that one week will elapse on Tuesday and the organs of the two labour centres will have to deliberate on the outcome of the negotiation and have a position. That was my response to their question. I am surprised that news is flying here and there quoting that I said that the strike will resume on Tuesday.”

Meanwhile, a NEC member of NLC who spoke to our reporter on the status of anonymous, said that the two labour centre may not likely meet anytime soon because almost all the labour leaders have traveled to Geneva for the International Labour Conference of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

“Beside we in labour doesn’t take action irrationally. We usually evaluate situation of things, agreements we have had and thoroughly discussed among all the organs before embarking on any action. Yes we relaxed the strike to finish the negotiation and now that is done, we wait for the next line of action the government before acting.

“Even though governors have said they cannot pay above N60,000, we believe that discussions among them are ongoing and that President Tinubu will engage them and make them see reasons why Nigerian workers should be paid a living wage instead of slave wage. Certainly, the organs of the organisd labour will meet to take further decision on the issue at hand but we are not resuming strike on Tuesday. He added.

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