Minimum wage: Organised Labour begins strike Nov 6

THE Organised Labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), the United Labour Congress (ULC) and their affiliate unions will commence a nationwide strike from Monday, November 6, 2018; over the issue of the new minimum wage.

Labour resolved to embark on the strike as it directed workers at all level to vote out this government during the 2019 general election, saying, “let us today remember those who deny us and let us collectively demonstrate our

position at next year’s polls.”

As a prelude to the nationwide strike, the leadership of labour said they would organise a protest tagged a day of national outrage and mourning on October 30, to sensitise Nigerians on the plight of Nigerian workers and the issues at stake.

Labour will also hold a meeting of various organs of the Unions as, and organise a Joint Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of all the Labour Centres to receive reports and make final preparations for the strike.

ALSO READ: Osun Tribunal: We reject Appeal Court clarifications — PDP

“If nothing is responsibly done by the federal government to meet our demands, on Monday, the 6^thday of November, we shall embark on a nation-wide strike to compel this government to show more sensitivity to the plight of Nigerians and the suffering that is decimating our people on daily basis.”

A statement jointly signed by the President of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the President of TUC, Comrade Bobbio Kaigama, and the President of ULC, Comrade Joe Ajaero said.

The statement read: “We the organised labour in Nigeria has not seen any sign that this government is willing to demonstrate honour and integrity in relating with Nigerian workers and masses have resolved to as follows:

“Organise a day of national outrage and mourning which will be used to sensitize Nigerians on our plight and on the issues at stake. This shall take place in all states of the federation including Abuja on Tuesday, the 30^th day of October 2018

“A meeting of various organs of the Unions will hold as appropriate. On Friday, the 2^nd day of November 2018, a Joint Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting of all the Labour Centres in Nigeria shall hold to receive reports and make final preparations for our ultimate engagement with the federal government on this matter.

“This is the first time in the history of this nation in recent times that such meeting will take place and this goes a long way to show the seriousness with which Nigerian workers and its leaders hold this matter.”

Labour challenged the Organised Private Sector (OPS), as represented in the Tripartite Committee to speak up on this matter; adding that keeping silent in the face of the apparent mischief by the government does the nation no good.

This, according to labour can only help mischief, dishonesty and impunity to grow; adding that the Organised Private Sector represented by Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), should therefore tell Nigerians the truth.

The statement said: “At this time the OPS does not have any other choice but to rise to the occasion by telling Nigerians what transpired in the meeting.

“They should tell Nigerians whether: there was a motion that was seconded on a final figure; there was a document signaling this agreement that had already been signed by some parties; the N30,000 figure was ours or a compromise figure based on proposed scenarios.”

It further read: “Thus far, the path to a new national minimum wage has been expectedly littered with betrayal, resistance, half-truths and now almost outright sabotage.

“That is why it has become urgent that Nigerians are informed of the insistence of the federal government to deliberately create confusion and make the negotiations for a new national minimum wage inconclusive as usual.

“It is not true that we proposed N30,000 as the new national minimum wage. It is also not true that the committee did not agree on a figure during its last sitting. We accepted N30,000 as a compromise to demonstrate the willingness of Nigerian workers to make sacrifices towards nation building.

“Anything to the contrary, no matter the quantum and character of the din or how well coached it may appear cannot be true. Resorting to Goebbelsianism at this time of national emergency which requires men and women of integrity is rather unfortunate and cannot suddenly make the brazen falsehoods truths.”

On the position of the Minister of Labour, Sen. Chris Ngige and the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the statement said: “We are worried that instead of the Minister of Labour being more concerned with the welfare of Nigerian workers and making enabling laws that would guarantee safety and a dignified workplace, he is focused more on seeking ways of emasculating workers and their organisations.

“We had thought that the FEC and the Ministry of Labour would have been more concerned about the huge Job losses being experienced in the country thus seek ways to create jobs but they are shamelessly seeking ways to impoverish and pauperize the remaining workforce. We had thought that a responsible government would seek to work for the people.

It added: “We urge all Nigerians and workers not to be discouraged as it has become obvious that this government does not care neither for the workers nor for the citizenry.

“It would always prefer the use of force to silence and subdue our cries of anguish rather than show feelings of brotherhood especially when our strength of logic and argument has overwhelmed their feeble attempts and propaganda.

“Let us today remember those who deny us and let us collectively demonstrate our position at next year’s polls.”

S-Davies Wande