The Nigeria
Labour Congress has suspended its seven-day warning strike following promises
by the Federal Government to reconvene the tripartite committee on national minimum
wage on October 4, 2018.
The labour
movement said the suspension took effect from Sunday, and further directed its
affiliate unions and state councils to maintain “a high level of mobilisation
and readiness until the struggle for a reasonable minimum wage is achieved.”
Announcing
the decision in Abuja on Sunday, the NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, stated that
the labour action was suspended to enable the tripartite committee to hold its
crucial meeting and conclude its work.
The workers are
demanding a new minimum wage of about N50,000 instead of the current national
minimum wage of N18, 000.
Wabba, who
was flanked by other labour leaders, said the unions had received a formal
invitation to a meeting of the tripartite committee scheduled for October 4 and
5.
He stated
that the two-day meeting would be the final session of the committee after
which a final report would be submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The NLC
President said, “We invite you here today (Sunday) to inform you that we have
received a firm and formal invitation to a reconvened meeting of the tripartite
committee scheduled for the 4th and 5th of October, 2018.
“We demand
that this shall be the final session of the committee and that a final report
will be submitted to Mr President immediately.”
He added,
“In order to avail the committee the necessary conducive environment to hold
this crucial meeting and conclude its work, organised labour has, after
obtaining the mandate of their necessary organs, decided to suspend the strike
action with effect from Sunday, September 30, 2018.”
The labour
leaders had held a meeting with the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator
Chris Ngige, last Wednesday where they were informed that the tripartite
committee on minimum wage would reconvene on October 4.
But the
labour leaders were unimpressed as they refused to suspend the strike which the
NLC, Trade Union of Nigeria and the United Labour Congress had ordered shortly
before the parley with the minister in Abuja.
The union leaders
subsequently held a meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba
Kyari, at the Presidential Villa last Thursday, where they were prevailed upon
to call off the strike.
The
Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria has directed its members to resume work on
Tuesday.
Shortly
after NLC suspended the strike on Sunday, President of JUSUN, Mr Marwan Adamu,
said, “The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria has asked all its members across Nigeria
to resume work on Tuesday, October 2nd, 2018 following the suspension of the
strike by the organised labour.”
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