The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has directed its state councils across the country to ensure total compliance with the indefinite nationwide strike scheduled to begin on Monday, June 3, 2024.
This directive comes after the federal government failed to agree on a new national minimum wage and reverse the recent hike in electricity tariff.
In a circular to all state councils, NLC General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, instructed affiliates and members to stay away from work starting midnight on Sunday.
The strike action has received support from critical sector unions, including the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN), and National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE).
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, emphasized that the strike will continue until a mutually agreeable minimum wage is signed into law.
He urged patience and understanding from the public, stating that the strike is a last resort after negotiations with the government yielded no results.
The strike action has been prompted by the government’s failure to meet the May 31 deadline set by labour unions to conclude negotiations on a new national minimum wage.
The old minimum wage of N30,000 expired on April 18, 2024, leaving workers without a legally binding wage.
The labour unions are demanding a new minimum wage of N615,000, while the government has offered N60,000. The strike is expected to paralyze critical sectors, including oil and gas, electricity, maritime, and finance.
