It was with reprieve that Nigeria woke up on the morning of 6th November, 2018 to the news that the National Labour Congress (NLC) has agreed to call off the proposed nationwide strike.

The NLC has earlier decided to flaunt a court order made on Friday, 2nd November, 2018 and continue with the indefinite industrial action starting from 00:00 GMT yesterday.

The order was gotten through an ex party motion moved by the Solicitor General of the Federation which the court granted stating that the order to halt the strike was as a result of ‘the urgency of the matter and the need to protect the overall interest of the public’.

This was after NLC walked out of a meeting with the government because the state governors said they couldn’t afford the proposed N30,000 by NLC but can afford to pay N22,500, just N2,700 increment from the old minimum wage.

However, speaking to newsmen last night, the National Chairman of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba informed the nation that organised labour unions decided to suspend the strike due to compromises reached by parties in a tripartite committee constituted for the purpose of determining the new minimum wages of Nigerian workers.

He further stated that parties have signed necessary documents to that effect and it awaits the approval from the presidency.

He therefore urged all Nigerian workers to go back to work as law abiding citizens. In the same light, the Chairman of the Tripartite Committee on the Review of National Minimum Wage, Amam Pepple said he was delighted that the task has been concluded and he was optimistic there will be a favourable response from the presidency.

Mixed feelings have however trailed the suspension of the strike as some of the workers are of the opinion that the Federal Government cannot be trusted and as such the only way to get the government’s attention is through strike, others commended NLC for reaching an agreement with the Federal Government and other parties concerned.

A well meaning citizen opined that he believes that until the leaders are allowed to earn minimum wage, they won’t understand how workers are suffering.

However, most of those who spoke to newsmen all agreed that implementation is a different ballgame and as such, NLC should follow up the implementation of the agreement so as to put a smile on the faces of workers in Nigeria.

The clamour for a new minimum wage is coming at a time when the prices of items in the market are at an alarming rate.

It has been gathered also that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the new minimum wage this evening after he received the report of the Tripartite Committee on the Review of National Minimum Wage.

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Speaking from the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President thanked the committee and reaffirmed his resolve to take care of the welfare of workers in the country.

He further stated that the review of minimum wage was long overdue as the last review took place in 2011 and as such, the prices of things were no longer the same.

He however concluded by stating that government workers and the labour unions should not be used as political weapons.

The new minimum wage fixed at N30,000 will see an average government worker (with a family) survive on N1,000 per day.

There are however, several things that can be taken out of the suspended strike. First is the fact that the indefinite strike would have crippled the Nigerian economy as was observed during the two days warning strike in October, 2018.

Second, the tripartite committee has presumably finished their report which was submitted to the President this evening.

The report contains mutual agreements between all parties concerned who decided to compromise at the last minute to salvage the looming economic doom.

Furthermore, the President has endorsed the new minimum wage and stated that the Federal Government will ensure that the new minimum wage is implemented.

It remains for the citizens to see whether the government will honour its agreement.
Source: https://africainfolead.com/nationwide-strike-in-nigeria-the-way-forward/

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