JUST-IN: NASS Moves To Stop Labour’s Planned Indefinite Strike Over Minimum Wage 

The National Assembly is currently engaging the Organised Labour as part of last-minute moves to avert the planned industrial action slated to commence on Monday.

The Parliament said its decision to intervene followed the deadlock between the federal government and the Labour Unions’ engagements on a new national minimum wage and the demand for reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs.

The National Assembly stressed that both parties have tenable reasons for holding on to their respective positions on the subject.

A statement earlier issued on Sunday and jointly signed by the spokesperson of the Senate, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, and spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Rep. Akin Rotimi, Jr., revealed that the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, were taking proactive steps to mediate and avert the impending industrial action.

The highest legislative arm was of the opinion that the strike action would have severe repercussions on Nigerian and the economy.

It said: “The National Assembly acknowledges the announcement by Organised Labour, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), to commence an indefinite strike action from Monday, June 3, 2024, nationwide.

“In view of this, the National Assembly Leadership and the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Labour, Employment and Productivity respectively, Senator Diket Plang, and Rep. Adegboyega Adefarati, are looking to engage both parties in constructive dialogue and explore a variety of solutions in addressing the issues at hand.”

It added that the 10th National Assembly was committed to ensuring that the interests of all parties were fairly represented.

Also, LEADERSHIP gathered that Akpabio has invited the labour leaders for an emergency meeting in Abuja, which is already underway this Sunday evening at press time.

Recall that following a breakdown of negotiations on the new national minimum wage, the Organised Labour had on Friday declared an indefinite nationwide strike, starting on Monday.

The decision was reached after the end of the one-month ultimatum given to the federal government to conclude new wage negotiations before May 31, 2024.

However the federal government’s failure to to increase the proposed minimum wage above N60,000 at the last meeting necessitated the strike with both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC ) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC ) describing the figure as insufficient take-home pay in the face of the current economic realities.

Despite the federal government’s plea for understanding, the organised labour has insisted on a N494,000 living wage for workers, which the Federal Government also said was unsustainable.

As at the time of this report on Sunday evening, the Senate President Godswill Akpabio was already holding the closed-door meeting with the SGF George Akume, some ministers and leaders of the Organised Labour, at the National Assembly Complex.

Aside Akume, also present at the meeting were Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; Minister of Finance, Dr Wale Edun; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu; Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Nkiruka Onyejiocha; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan.

The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, President of TUC, Festus Osifo and members of their national executive councils were also present.

Details Later…