The Organised Labour has announced there will be no strike action on Tuesday regarding the ongoing minimum wage negotiations with the Federal Government.
Labour had previously suspended its strike action for one week to allow for meetings with the government to determine a new minimum wage. This suspension is set to end today.
However, speaking at the ongoing International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero confirmed there will be no strike on Tuesday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the conference, Ajaero said Labour is awaiting President Bola Tinubu’s decision on the matter before taking any further action.
“The tripartite committee submitted two figures to the President. The government and employers proposed N62,000, while Labour proposed N250,000,” Ajaero stated. “We are waiting for the President’s decision. Our National Executive Council (NEC) will deliberate on the new figure once it is released. We cannot declare a strike now because the figures are with the President. We will wait for his decision.”
He noted that during the tenure of the immediate past President, the proposed figure was N27,000, which was increased to N30,000. Ajaero expressed hope that President Tinubu would also make a favorable decision, acknowledging the significant gap between N62,000 and N250,000.
Regarding the stance of the 36 state governors who claim they cannot pay the proposed N60,000 minimum wage, Ajaero criticized their position. He challenged governors to decentralize their own salaries and emoluments first, highlighting the disparity in revenue contributions among states.
“How can any governor say he cannot pay? They cannot also be calling for the decentralization of the minimum wage. Governors whose states generate little revenue but receive substantial federal allocations should follow the example of Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, who is paying a N70,000 minimum wage. This is the type of leadership that should be emulated, not the lazy ones,” Ajaero said.
The labour leader’s remarks underscore the ongoing debate over fair wages and the financial responsibilities of state governors in Nigeria. The Organised Labour remains poised for further discussions once the President makes his decision.
