The Labour Party (LP) has called on workers’ unions to engage in negotiations with the government for a new minimum wage instead of resorting to strike action.
This statement was made on Monday, June 3, 2024 by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Obiora Ifoh.
Mr. Ifoh highlighted that strike actions would only lead to increased hardship for Nigerians, who are already contending with numerous challenges.
He addressed the unions’ demand for a minimum wage of N494,000, labeling it as unrealistic and unsustainable. Instead, he recommended that the labour unions persist in negotiations with the government to arrive at a mutually acceptable wage.
“Negotiation is not a one-off thing. If the Federal Government is not willing to go above N60,000 minimum wage, I think that the organised labour should work with what is available while it continues to negotiate,” Ifoh stated.
He acknowledged the government’s struggles, noting that it is still in a phase of adjustment and testing the waters. He stressed that negotiation is an ongoing process and cautioned against any actions that might worsen the current economic hardships faced by Nigerians.
The Labour Party’s stance comes in response to the nationwide strike declared by organised labour unions following unsuccessful negotiations with the government, which had proposed N60,000 as the new minimum wage.
