The Labour Union refuses to accept the ₦62,000 and ₦100,000 wages, deeming them as insufficient to meet basic needs.
During the last meeting of the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage, the union emphasized that ₦250,000 should be the living wage for the average Nigerian worker.
Chris Onyeka, Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress, confirmed this information during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief show.
He stated that the deadline given to the Federal Government would expire on Tuesday, June 11, 2024. If the government fails to address the workers’ demands by then, The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) will meet to discuss the possibility of resuming nationwide industrial action.
Onyeka clarified that the union has never considered accepting wages below ₦62,000, and their current demand is ₦250,000. He emphasized that this demand is based on the realities of the market and the cost of essential goods.
The responsibility now lies with the Federal Government and the National Assembly to review the demands and pass a National Minimum Act that meets the workers’ expectations.
If the government does not respond appropriately, Organised Labour will meet to determine the next steps. Onyeka explained that the union had temporarily halted the nationwide indefinite strike, but if the suspension is lifted, they will resume their previous actions.
