In a surprise move, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have temporarily suspended their ongoing strike action, putting the fight for a new minimum wage on hold for one week. The decision was announced on Tuesday after a joint National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, which aimed to determine the strike’s fate.
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According to Francis Akinjorin, Deputy National Secretary of the Association of Air Transport Association of Nigeria (ATTSAN), the unions are “relaxing” the strike for a week to give the Federal Government a chance to demonstrate its sincerity. This move comes after President Bola Tinubu committed to raising the proposed minimum wage of N60,000 during a six-hour meeting with labour leaders on Monday.
The strike, which began on June 2, was called to demand a new minimum wage and protest the recent increase in electricity prices. The NLC and TUC had demanded a minimum wage of N494,000, while the government proposed N60,000. The Tripartite Committee will now convene daily for the next week to finalize an agreeable National Minimum Wage.
The temporary suspension of the strike has brought relief to many Nigerians who were affected by the industrial action. However, labour leaders remain cautious, awaiting the government’s concrete actions to address their demands. The next week will be crucial in determining the fate of the strike and the future of Nigeria’s minimum wage.
