The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has announced its readiness to embark on strike in states yet to implement the new minimum wage by December 1, 2024.
The decision was contained in a communique signed by the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, at the end of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Friday, November 8.
Condemning the delay by some states to implement the new minimum wage, the NLC said workers in affected states were finding it difficult to sustain themselves given the worsening state of the economy.
The union stated: “The NEC notes with deep frustration the persistent delay and outright refusal by some state governments to implement the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act.
“This betrayal by certain governors and government officials across the country flies in the face of both legality and morality, as workers continue to be denied their rightful wages amidst rising economic hardship. It is a blatant disregard for the law and the lives of millions of Nigerian workers, who are being exploited by the very leaders sworn to protect them.
“The NEC therefore resolves to set up a National Minimum Wage Implementation Committee that will among others commence a nationwide assessment, mobilization, and sensitization campaign, educating workers and citizens on the need to resist this assault on their dignity and rights. Furthermore, the NLC shall initiate a series of industrial actions in all non-compliant states and shall not relent until the minimum wage is fully implemented across Nigeria.
“To this end, all State Councils where the National Minimum Wage has not been fully implemented by the last day of November 2024 have been directed to proceed on strike beginning from the 1st day of December 2024. Nigerian workers demand justice, and justice they shall have.”
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While raising concerns over the economic hardship in the country, the NLC called on the government to embark on a wage review and immediately implement concrete interventions that would relieve the sufferings of Nigerians as well as comprehensive social protection policies and affordable healthcare.
The NLC said: “We demand immediate and concrete interventions from the Federal Government, not token measures, to relieve this suffering. We call for the implementation of comprehensive social protection policies that shield Nigerians from poverty, provide affordable healthcare, and ensure a wage that reflects the true cost of living.
“To this end, we call for a wage review across the nation including a review of all the policies that have rather emasculated Nigerian people.”
On the military invasion of the Oritsetimeyin oil rig, the NLC demanded “an immediate withdrawal of all forces of invasion now occupying the Oil rig, a cessation of further militarization of the nation’s workplaces and restoration of the workers forcefully ejected from the site including a quick compliance with the agreement faithfully negotiated and earlier signed by the parties.”
Alleging a gang up against Nigerians by a few individuals frustrating appropriate pricing of petrol in the country, the NLC said there was an urgent need for the federal government to activate all local public refineries, to address alleged padding of costs and abnormal price margins.
It stated: “It is entirely possible that Nigerian workers and masses are being ripped off by those who control the levers of Economic power in Nigeria which explains why the domestic public refineries may not immediately be allowed to come on stream.
“NLC demands appropriate pricing of petrol and calls for the Public domestic refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna to quickly come back on stream to break up the monopolistic stranglehold the big players have on the industry.
“NEC expressed its appreciation to the federal government for providing CNG buses to Congress but noted that they are grossly inadequate to address the huge gap in transportation focused on reducing costs for workers who daily commute to work. It also noted the apparent CNG infrastructure deficits around the country which may scuttle the entire CNG objectives.
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“Consequently, NEC demanded the provision of more CNG buses to Congress and establish the needed infrastructure for fuelling and maintenance to provide cheaper transportation to Nigerian workers across the nation.
“The Nigeria Labour Congress remains unwavering in its commitment to the wellbeing and dignity of Nigerian workers. The NEC reiterates its readiness to confront these injustices with every tool at our disposal. Our resolve is unshakeable, and our demand is clear: A Nigeria where workers are respected, their rights upheld, and their futures secure.”
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