Labour declares nationwide strike over minimum wage, electricity tariff hike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have declared a nationwide strike beginning from Monday, June 3rd, 2024 over failure to agree on a new minimum wage.

The labour unions made the announcement during a briefing on Friday, in Abuja, after several attempts by the 37 members’ tripartite committee to reach a definite new minimum wage figure for Nigerian workers proved fruitless. 

The labour unions reduced their demand from ₦615,000 to ₦497,000 after seeing reasons for the decision. However, the federal government, during the last negotiation, proposed a ₦60,000 monthly minimum wage as against the previous N57,000 proposal which was rejected.

The unions also frowned at the recent hike in electricity tariff for Nigerians. 

Meanwhile, organised labour at the start of the negotiations, had given the federal government until May 31 to come up with a new minimum wage that would reflect the current economic realities of Nigerians. 

The labour unions begged with Nigerians to bear with them, saying “Apologies for inconveniences but commitment to pursue the cause to its conclusion.”