The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have announced an indefinite strike starting on Monday, June 3rd, 2024.

The President of the TUC Festus Osifo announced the strike at a joint news conference with the leadership of the NLC in Abuja on Friday.

During a press conference in Abuja following the conclusion of the Federal Government’s meeting on the negotiation of a new minimum wage, The Presidents of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Festus Osifo, expressed their disappointment with the government’s lack of seriousness and apparent disregard for the demands of Nigerian workers and citizens.

This decision of the strike comes after negotiations with the federal government regarding the new minimum wage and electricity tariff hikes reached a deadlock.

Despite the government and private sector offering ₦60,000 as the best they could provide, organised labour rejected this amount. The strike set to begin Monday, June 3rd, 2024, aims to push for a higher minimum wage.

The tripartite committee on the new minimum wage, established by the federal government in January, has been in talks since its inception.

The NLC and TUC had given the committee until the end of last month to conclude negotiations, but with no agreement reached, the strike has been called.

The NLC and TUC expressed disappointment over the government’s failure to pass a new National Minimum Wage Act and reverse the electricity tariff hike. They emphasized the importance of fair wages that reflect economic realities and called for action to be taken to address the concerns of Nigerian workers.

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) also expressed disappointment at the lack of consensus on the new minimum wage. They highlighted the need to balance workers’ needs with economic conditions and business sustainability, warning that a significant increase in the minimum wage could have negative consequences on businesses and job security.

NECA urged the government to implement interventions to support workers and businesses, emphasizing the importance of maintaining business sustainability for job creation and economic growth.