The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have declared an indefinite nationwide strike starting Monday, June 3, 2024. This decision follows the failure to reach an agreement with the federal government on a new minimum wage and the reversal of recent electricity tariff hikes.
The strike, announced at a press conference in Abuja, will see participation from various workers’ unions, including those representing doctors, university lecturers, airport workers, and electricity workers. These unions are affiliates of the NLC and TUC.
The unions are demanding a new minimum wage to replace the current N30,000, which has been deemed insufficient following the removal of the fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market by the Central Bank of Nigeria. These policies, introduced by President Bola Tinubu in May 2023, have led to a significant increase in the cost of goods and services, causing hardship for many Nigerians.
Despite negotiations, no agreement has been reached, prompting the unions to initiate the strike. TUC President Festus Osifo stated, “Since the National Minimum Wage negotiation exercise has not been concluded and the agreed wage passed into law; the hike in electricity tariff has not been reversed; Nigerian workers are compelled by these failures to embark on an indefinite nationwide industrial action.”
The unions argue that the recent electricity tariff hikes place an undue burden on workers and consumers. They also demand an end to the categorization of consumers into different bands for tariff purposes.
The federal government has introduced various palliatives to mitigate the economic impact of its policies, but many Nigerians continue to face rising costs for petrol, food, and other essentials, leading to increased transportation costs and significant lifestyle changes.
The strike aims to pressure the government into addressing these issues and providing relief to Nigerian workers and consumers.
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