JUST IN: NLC suspends strike

The Nigrerian Labour Congress has suspended its ongoing strike.
The strike commenced on September 26.
The National President of the NLC, Ayuba Wabba, announced the suspension of the strike at a press conference on Sunday in Abuja.
“The suspension takes effect from today Sunday,” he said.
The suspension means workers are expected to resume duties on Tuesday as Monday has been declared a public holiday by the federal government to mark the October 1 Independence Day.
The workers are demanding a new minimum wage of about N50,000 instead of the current national minimum wage of N18,000.
Most state governors as well as proponents of true federalism have, however, argued that states should be allowed to set their own minimum wage especially as many states are barely able to pay the current N18,000 current minimum wage.
On Wednesday, NLC president, Ayuba Wabba, said the union was open to dialogue on the strike.
“Our demand is that the tripartite negotiating council should be called back to conclude its assignment on minimum wage.” Mr Wabba said.
The minister of labour and employment, Chris Ngige, then assured the unions that the tripartite committee will reconvene to complete its negotiation.
“Before the meeting on October 4, all necessary demands by organised labour would have been factored in,” Mr Ngige said.
Details later…

You can’t force us to pay new minimum wage - Governors tell NLC, others

The governors of states in Nigeria reportedly say they cannot be blackmailed into agreeing to the new minimum wage
- The committee set up by the governors is yet to submit its report concerning the issue
- The governors say they can only accept a deal after a proper assessment of their capacity to pay the new wage
The governors of the 36 states of the federation have reportedly said they will not fall for any blackmail or attempt to stampede them into reaching an agreement on the new minimum wage currently threatening peaceful industrial relations in Nigeria.
The statement by the governors came at a period the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and its affiliate unions announced commencement of a nationwide industrial action starting from midnight on Wednesday, September 26 to protest the delay in fixing a new minimum wage for public servants.
This Day reports that the governors’ position was made known just as the Joint Tax Board (JTB) confirmed that most of the states have witnessed enhanced revenue generation.
Under the umbrella of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), they said they can only accept a deal after proper assessment of their capacity to pay any increase in wage bill.
It was learnt that the committee set up by the governors to look into the issue has not completed its assignment.
“The governors are waiting for the committee’s report to enable them make a statement. I think the committee would have submitted its report last week but that didn’t happen.

“What the states are saying is that they may not be able to accept a flat rate figure for minimum wage since most of them are currently facing economic challenges,” the report quoted a source as saying.
It  earlier reported that the
Trade Union Congress on Tuesday insisted organised labour would commence strike from early hours of Thursday, September 27, following the federal government’s failure to honour its ultimatum on the new minimum wage.
A statement signed by the secretary-general of the union, Musa-Lawal Ozigi, in Abuja stated that the decision to embark on strike was sequel to the resolve of the Central Working Committee of TUC on September 24

Strike: NLC declares total shutdown; asks banks, schools, others to join

The Nigeria Labour Congress has called on all its members and affiliate unions to join its nationwide strike.