Barely 24 hours after the commencement of a nationwide strike by organised labour, the federal government has agreed to continue negotiations, with a commitment of increasing the earlier proposed N60,000 minimum wage.
The strike, THE WHISTLER reported had full compliance by staff of MDAs, financial institutions, government hospitals, and power sectors amongst others after the federal government refused to increase the earlier N60,000 minimum wage proposal. The meeting had ended in a deadlock.
In a meeting which lasted for eight hours, the federal government and the organised labour reached an agreement, which was signed in a communique.
The communique was jointly signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; Minister of State for Labour and Employment; Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero and President, Trade Union Congress (TUC)
Festus Osifo.
It reads, “The federal government, in the National interest, convened a meeting with Labour held in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on Monday 3rd June, with a view to ending the strike action.
“The President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria is committed to a National Minimum Wage that is higher than N60,000.
“Arising from the above, the Tripartite Committee is to meet every day for the next one week with a view to arriving at an agreeable National Minimum Wage”.
In response to the federal governments proposal, the organised labour said, “Labour in deference to the high esteem of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria’s commitment undertakes to convene a meeting of its organs immediately to consider this commitment.
“No worker would be victimized as a result of the industrial action”.
When contacted when the emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting by the organised labour would be held, a top source present at the meeting told NewsNGR that it would be held by 9 am on Tuesday.
The source who spoke on the conditions of anonymity said, “Yes, a joint NEC meeting will be held by 9:00 am today via Zoom”.