Nationwide strike: TUC kicks against FG’s ‘no work no pay’ threat

THE Trade Union Congress (TUC) has kicked against the threat by the federal government to commence ‘no work no pay’ rule against the Nigerian workers ahead of a planned nationwide strike on 6th November 2018.

Speaking during the Executive Council Meeting in Lagos on Wednesday, the President General of TUC, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama and other members of National Executive Council (NEC) said they aligned with the position of the organised labour to commence nationwide strike on 6th November 2018 in the event of failure of Federal Government to commence implementation of the National Minimum Wage at N30,000.

The NEC described as abhorrent the government design to influence the tenure of union executives and members of unions negotiating team through its white paper and resolves that such attempts will be resisted.

“That the threat of “no work, no pay” shall not deter the workers from carrying out legitimate duties to actualise the minimum wage. We enjoin the Government to take note of International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 87, to which Nigeria is a signatory. The convention allows the workers and employers to have the right to manage their affairs without government interference.

“We, therefore, reject the white paper which is meant to cripple labour agitation for the welfare of its members and the society in general,” the NEC said.

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The NEC also said it reviewed the current situation with regards to the conclusion of the sittings of the Tripartite National Minimum Wage Negotiating Committee that took place on October 4 & 5, 2018. NEC took note that the Tripartite National Minimum Wage Negotiating Committee arrived at N30,000.

The NEC also rejected the reports making the rounds that Governors have agreed to pay N22,500 as minimum wage by the states. The NEC rejected the amount on the grounds that the Governor’s Forum is not an established body empowered to negotiate new minimum wage, but the Tripartite Committee which of course includes the representatives of Governors, NECA, NACCIMA, etc. The Committee has concluded its job and has come up with N30,000 and TUC stands by the decision.

The NEC condemned in totality the statement credited to some quarters that the Tripartite Committee on minimum wage did not agree on N30,000.