The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has disclosed plans to embark on a one-month nationwide strike and protest over plans to decentralise the negotiation on a new minimum wage. The union raised the alarm amid the new minimum wage negotiation between the federal government, organised labour and organised private sector.
NLC President Joe Ajaero made the threat while speaking at the 67th Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association Annual General Meeting in Lagos. He opposed plans to remove the national minimum wage from the exclusive legislative list and move it to the concurrent list, allowing state governors to determine wages.
According to The Punch, Ajaero argued that this move would lead to a “slave wage” and force poverty on citizens. He emphasized that the Constitution provides for equal work for equal pay and that decentralizing wages would be against the concept of equity and equality before the law.
The NLC is adamant that it will not accept any situation where governors and National Assembly members impose a wage that would harm workers. Ajaero warned that if such a law is passed, there will be no movement in the country for a month.
The NLC strongly opposes the proposed decentralisation of the national minimum wage, and the union’s threat of a month-long shutdown is a significant show of force.
This comes barely 48 hours before President Bola Tinubu will be meeting with the leadership of organised labour before making a final decision on the new minimum wage.
Leave a Reply