NLC Threatens Month-Long Shutdown Strike Over Minimum Wage
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a stern warning of a one-month shutdown if Nigerian lawmakers proceed with plans to remove the minimum wage from the Exclusive to Concurrent list in the Constitution. This warning comes ahead of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s scheduled meeting with organized labor leaders on Thursday.
NLC President Joe Ajaero delivered this ultimatum on Monday during the opening ceremony of the 2024 annual Rain School of the NLC in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Ajaero criticized the proposed legislative move, arguing that it would enable each state governor to set their own minimum wage, potentially undermining national wage standards.
Ajaero stated, “As we are here, a Joint Committee of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the Judiciary are meeting. They have decided to remove section 34 from the Exclusive legislative list to the concurrent list so that state governors can determine what to pay you, and there will be no minimum wage again.”
He vowed that if this legislative change is enacted, the NLC would mobilize workers and halt Nigeria’s economy for a month. “The very moment the House of Representatives and the Senate come up with such a law that will not benefit Nigerian workers, they will be their drivers and gatemen, and there will be no movement for one month,” Ajaero warned.
He further urged his members to be ready to act if the committee proceeds with the policy, stating, “Comrades, I am putting you on standby. If that committee comes up with such a policy, for one month nobody should come out. They are the major threat to democracy in this country.”
Ajaero emphasized that the lawmakers were not part of the struggle for democracy and are now attempting to undermine workers’ rights by removing the minimum wage from the exclusive list. He also called for the abolition of the security vote.
Meanwhile, Minister of Information Mohammed Idris announced that President Tinubu will meet with labor leaders on Thursday to discuss the country’s minimum wage. This follows a deadlock in last Thursday’s discussions on a harmonized minimum wage. The government had proposed a 62,000 naira minimum wage, while organized labor demanded 250,000 naira.
The National Minimum Wage Tripartite had previously submitted the minimum wage proposal to the President. As the debate continues, Nigerians are grappling with rising inflation, with headline and food inflation rates standing at 34.19 percent and 40.87 percent, respectively, as of June 2024.
