Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has supported the strike declared by labour unions in the country.
The organised labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had announced the commencement of an indefinite nationwide strike which started yesterday,
The action was due toLabour’s unfruitful negotiations with the government over the proposed minimum wage and the recent controversial increase in electricity tariffs.
The negotiations finally collapsed after a failed 7th attempt by the 37-member tripartite committee to reach a definite new minimum wage figure for Nigerian workers, with the organised labour expressing frustration over the government’s lack of commitment and representation at the negotiation meeting.
CDHR, in a statement by its president, Comrade Debo Adeniran affirmed that, “We are in support of the strike because we believe there is no reason for the increases in prices of macroeconomic products while citizen’s purchasing power dwindles.
“All essential commodities are supposed to be subsidized or made generously available for the people, since the government cannot do this, it is important for the government to pay workers a more reasonable wage than what is obtained now.
“The current economic realities have drastically reduced the purchasing power of the average Nigerian worker. Inflation, rising cost of living, and the continuous devaluation of the naira have made it increasingly difficult for many families to sustain or meet their basic needs.
“We believe that if Nigerian workers are paid a ‘living wage’, it would translate into better living conditions for millions of Nigerian families, and could also help to reduce corruption among civil servants in the country thereby ensuring greater prosperity for all and aiding the growth and development of the economy of the country.’’
CDHR averred that increment in the minimum wage would also boost the morale of Nigerian workers and could also lead to enhanced and greater productivity among the workforce.
Adeniran insisted that a “fair wage that would reflect the current economic realities should not be less than N200,000, and it should be regularly reviewed to keep pace with inflation and cost of living adjustments.”
‘’We urge the government to engage the Labour Union in constructive and meaningful negotiations aimed at reaching a mutually beneficial agreement on the minimum wage.’’
