{BREAKING} MINIMUM WAGE: NLC ANNOUNCES THAT WE’RE NOT GOING ON STRIKE

Babatunji Wusu –

In response to the ongoing conflict with the government over the new minimum wage, organized labor will not go on strike tomorrow, according to Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Ajaero explained the reasoning for the decision, stating that since President Bola Tinubu is currently in possession of the numbers and is expecting feedback, labor would not go on strike just yet.

Speaking on Monday at the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, the president of the NLC announced the decision.

Ajaero stated that it is still feasible for the President to raise the amount that is being recommended to him, citing instances from earlier administrations.

He did, however, denounce as lazy governors those who have stated they are unable to pay the N62,000 new minimum wage that the federal government is currently proposing.

In his words, “We cannot declare strike now because the figures are with the President.”

“During the tenure of the immediate past President, the figure that was proposed to him was N27,000 by the tripartite committee but he increased it to N30,000. We are hopeful that this President will do the right thing. The President had noted that the difference between N62,000 and N250,000 is a wide gulf,”

“How can any governor say he cannot pay? They cannot also be calling for the decentralization of the minimum wage.

“Are there wages decentralized? Governors whose states are not contributing a dime to the national purse and who generate pitiable Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) are collecting the same amount as governors whose states are generating billions of dollars into the FAAC.

“They should decentralize their salaries and emoluments first.”

“So, where is the governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki getting his money from? He is paying N70,000 minimum wage. This is the type of governor that should be emulated and not the lazy ones.”