The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the proposed minimum wages of ₦62,000 and ₦100,000, deeming them insufficient. This move hints at a possible resumption of the nationwide strike that was temporarily suspended last week.
Chris Onyeka, Assistant General Secretary of the NLC, made this declaration on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief show on Monday. He emphasized that the Federal Government and National Assembly must respond to Labour’s demand for ₦250,000 by Tuesday or face the consequences.
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Onyeka stated, “The Federal Government and National Assembly have the responsibility to address our demands. We have submitted our request for an Executive Bill that meets our requirements. If our demands are not met, we will reconvene to determine the next course of action.”
He clarified that the temporary suspension of the strike does not mean it has been called off entirely. “We have only paused the strike, and if the organs of Organised Labour decide to resume it, we will revert to our original stance.”
The NLC has maintained that it will not accept any wage below ₦250,000, which it considers a reasonable concession. Onyeka emphasized that the proposed wages of ₦62,000 and ₦100,000 are unacceptable and do not reflect the realities of the market place.
The fate of the minimum wage negotiations now hangs in the balance, as Labour awaits a tangible response from the government by Tuesday. Failure to meet their demands may lead to a resumption of the strike.
