A meeting between representatives of the federal government, leadership of the National Assembly, and officials of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over the proposed national minimum wage ended in deadlock on Sunday. As a result, labour unions have begun a nationwide strike today, June 3, amid uncertainties.
The strike is expected to affect offices, banks, airports, and other key places across the country. Essential services, including power supply, fuel distribution, and transportation, may also be disrupted.
The NLC and TUC have been in negotiation with the federal government over a new minimum wage since last year, following the government’s policies that led to an increase in the cost of goods and services. The unions are demanding a new minimum wage of N494,000, while the government has offered N60,000.
The strike has been called to compel the government to agree on a new minimum wage for workers and review the increase in electricity prices for some consumers. The labour unions expect other workers’ unions, including those of doctors, university lecturers, airport workers, and electricity workers, to join the strike.
The federal government has warned that the strike will have dire consequences for the economy, but the labour unions are adamant that the strike will go ahead as planned.
