Electricity Tariff, Minimum Wage: NLC, TUC, CSOs Set For Showdown With FG
The National leadership of the Organised Labour in Nigeria made up of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) as well as members of the Civil Society Organisations in the country are set for a total showdown and lockdown of the country if the Federal Government fails to reverse the hike in electricity tariff and conclude the new minimum wage by May 31, 2024.
The Organised Labour insisted on its May 31, 2024 ultimatum given to the Federal Government to finalise the new national minimum wage fixing process for workers.
A communique issued at the end of a joint emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NLC and TUC which took place on Monday, May 20, 2024 in Abuja and signed by Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the NLC and Comrade Festus Osifo, President of TUC, emphasised the ultimatum issued by the Organised Labour to the Federal Government, which expires on the last day of May, 2024.
The NLC-TUC joint NEC meeting directed all State Councils whose state governments were yet to fully implement the N30,000 national minimum wage and its consequential adjustments to immediately issue a joint two-week ultimatum to the culpable state governments to avert industrial action.
The NLC and TUC stressed that Labour need an agreement that will genuinely reflect the true value of Nigerian workers’ contributions to the nation’s development and the current crisis of survival facing Nigerians as a result of government’s policies.
The NEC specifically demanded for an immediate reversal of the tariff hike in electricity and what it described as the “vexatious apartheid categorisation” into bands to alleviate the suffering of Nigerian workers and citizens.
Labour therefore gave the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Federal Government May 31, 2024 ultimatum to meet the demands.
The communique further stated; “In the event that the government fails to meet the demands outlined within the stipulated timeframe, the NEC authorizes the leadership of the NLC and TUC to take appropriate actions.
“This including, but not limited to the mobilisation of workers for peaceful protests and industrial actions, to press home these demands for social justice and workers’ rights,” the communiqué stated in part.
The Organised Labour said its NEC had thoroughly deliberated on the issues and considered the current realities as they affects Nigerian workers and masses.
The communique further stated that the NEC affirmed its commitment to ensuring that the interests and welfare of workers are adequately protected in the negotiation process.
The NLC and TUC joint NEC emphasised the non-negotiable nature of the demands and urged the government to prioritise the resolution of the issues in the best interest of industrial peace.
The two leading umbrella Unions in the country, called on all affiliate unions, and workers including Civil Society Organisations across Nigeria to remain united and steadfast in solidarity during the critical period should the strike come to reality.
