By Eberechi Obinagwam
The organised labour has commenced sensitization notice to the public on its planned November 6 indefinite strike action which is to protest the refusal by the federal government to implement the N30, 000 new minimium wage.
The N30,000 new minimum wage is the position of the organised labour led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the United Labour Congress, (ULC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) as the least wage a Nigerian worker is entitled to. The federal and state governments are proposing N24,000 and N20,000 respectively.
Speaking with journalists, National President, United Labour Congress (ULC), Comrade Joe Ajaero said that the sensitisation is to prepare the minds of Nigerians on what is ahead so they don’t wake up and see strike and start asking why.
Comrade Ajaero said N30,000 is non negotiable.
According to him, even the N30, 000 was not comfortable to them but because other sectors involved said that their business will be affected.
“We came up with N36, 522.18, median of N45, 000 and mode of N50, 000, later it came to N35, 000, came down to N35, 000 before we finally settled on N30, 000 because they complained that their business will be affected. We accepted it in the spirit of give and take. Why must they owe workers? Have you ever heard that government is owing governors, senator ?”he queried.
Answering question on whether Ngige is serving the interest of the people, he said: “He is serving their purpose and we are serving ours and we are maintaining our stand.”
He also disclosed that the November 6 will be the mother of all strikes in Nigeria. “Posterity will judge us if we fail to rise up to defend Nigerian workers,” he said.
On the issue of some governors refusal to pay the new minimium wage, Deputy President of Nigeria Labour Congress,(NLC), Comrade Amechi Asugwuni, said that any governor that will not pay will be voted out.
“We will not lose anything from the N30, 000. We can achieve it. The central committee will meet on the 2nd November to strategize on the union final decision. The strike will not be good for the economy of Nigeria. It will be better for everybody if government complies. The struggle is to defend the people of this country and the idea is to sensitise Nigerians to stock food in their houses because once we commence the strike, there is no going back except government agrees to our terms and conditions,” he said.
