In a bid to resolve the ongoing strike over the national minimum wage, George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has called for an emergency meeting with organized labour. The strike has caused significant disruptions to economic activities across Nigeria.
Confirming this development, Comrade Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), told The Nation that leaders from both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and TUC were on their way to the SGF’s office for this critical meeting. “Yes, we are heading there now,” Osifo remarked, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
The strike, which began on Monday, has paralyzed various sectors including banking, education, and transportation, leading to widespread shutdowns. This industrial action follows prolonged and unsuccessful negotiations over increasing the national minimum wage.
Furthermore, the Tripartite Committee on National Minimum Wage has arranged a follow-up meeting with organized labour for Tuesday. The results of these discussions hold immense importance, as they could influence whether the labour unions decide to end the strike. Both government officials and labour representatives are under considerable pressure to forge an agreement that would alleviate the economic impact and restore normalcy to the country’s activities.
