By Eberechi Obinagwam
Members of the organised labour have threatened to shut down the nation’s economy if that is what it would take the federal government to comply with their demands for a pay rise.
Vice president, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Amechi Asugwuni, made this known at the warning strike at Alausa Secretariat, Lagos.
He said that the union will get all other workers, traders, transporters to join in the strike from the second day and continue with the strike if the federal government refuses to drop the new wage figure at the table just as 21 governors have so far done.
He explained that the new national minimum wage NLC is asking for is not new but something that should have been done before now because according to him, the law provides for its review every 5 years.
“The federal government is playing on our intelligence and we will not take that. The last time we went, we were told by the minister of Labour that there is nothing for us on the table,” he said.
Speaking also, comrade Chike Achude, representing the Chairman, Joint Action Front, said: “What Nigerian workers are earning today is not pay, politicians are earning big regardless of how poor Nigeria is,” he said.
He said the government refuses to acknowledge that Nigeria workers deserve something better adding that many of the workers had died on queue for their pension and out of poverty while the politicians earn big and ignore their fellow Nigerians.
“This is the worse in this country. The minimum wage we are demanding for is not even enough.
“This strike is about your welfare and we have made up our mind that there is no going back. Workers cannot be in slavery in their country. We deserve something better.” he said.
Also, National president, Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), Oyinkan Olasanoye used the opportunity to tell market women that the strike being embarked upon was to enable workers to buy things from them and to also increase the nation’s GDP.
She also said that the organised unions gave federal government enough time to put things together but they refused to adhere to their warnings.
She however was surprised to see that banks were operating after sending them letters to join the strike before now.
The organised union went round Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja and Allen Avenue to enforce the strike. Where management of such offices, both government and private, they give only a grace of 15 minutes for workers to vacate before they shut the gate.
At Stanbic IBTC, Alausa, the management refused to allow their staff comply with the strike, so the place was shut with chain and padlock with the instructions that no one breaks or opens it.
The union visited some other places like GTB, Polaris Bank formerly Skyebank, Unity Bank on Allen Avenue, and many others telling them not to border coming to work tomorrow because the strike will be stronger to avoid any harassment.