The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared an indefinite nationwide strike starting on Monday, June 3, 2024, due to the Federal Government’s refusal to increase the proposed minimum wage above N60,000.

Despite the government’s final offer of N60,000, which included a recent increase from an initial N57,000, the labour unions found the proposal insufficient, setting a new proposal at N494,000.

The Evolution of Nigeria’s Minimum Wage

The concept of a minimum wage in Nigeria dates back to the 1950s. The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as Premier of the Western Region, implemented the first minimum wage policy in 1954. Western Nigerian workers received a minimum wage that was double the amount paid to their counterparts in other regions. This initial wage policy set a precedent and sparked ongoing discussions about fair labor compensation in the country.

Following Nigeria’s independence in 1960, the push for a national minimum wage continued. In 1959, Awolowo, then the President of the Action Group, campaigned vigorously for a five-pound minimum wage for federal workers. Although he lost the 1959 elections to Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the issue of a national minimum wage remained a significant political agenda.

The First National Minimum Wage Law

The first National Minimum Wage Law was enacted by President Shehu Shagari in September 1981, spurred by the advocacy of the Nigerian Labour Congress led by Hassan Sunmonu. The law set a minimum wage of 125 naira per month, equivalent to approximately US$204 at the time.

Subsequent Revisions

Over the years, the minimum wage has undergone several revisions:

2000: Increased to N5,500.

2011: Under President Goodluck Jonathan, it was raised to N18,000.

2019: The National Minimum Wage Act signed by President Muhammadu Buhari established a new wage of N30,000 per month.

The Current Debate

In January 2024, the federal government formed a 37-member tripartite committee to review the National Minimum Wage. However, the committee has not yet reached an agreement. The NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have set a deadline of May 31 for the government to establish a new wage policy. The unions are demanding a minimum wage of at least N60,000.

Some states have unilaterally announced new minimum wages. For example, Edo State approved a new wage of N70,000 effective May 1, 2024, while Lagos State has been paying a wage award of N35,000 since January 2024.

The discussions about the minimum wage are fraught with tension, particularly between state and federal governments. State governments often argue they cannot afford higher wages, while the federal government usually proposes higher rates. This discord reflects a long-standing issue in Nigeria’s wage policy, where economic realities and political promises often clash.

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), have insisted on proceeding with the indefinite strike action scheduled to commence on Monday, 3rd June, 2024.

This is as the leadership of the National Assembly led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio called for a return to the negotiation table.

Naija News recalls that the labour leaders and the government delegation held a meeting on Sunday as part of last-minute efforts to avert a nationwide strike over the new minimum wage.

However, the organized labour said after the meeting, which lasted for about four hours, that their planned indefinite strike action over the new minimum wage would proceed as scheduled.

The unions added that they would meet and discuss the appeal made by the leadership of the National Assembly on the need to suspend the proposed strike and allow for more dialogue with its organs before taking a final decision.

During the meeting, the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, underscored the essence of the meeting, stating, “We are not fighting for a starvation wage but a living wage.”

Ajaero highlighted that the government must recognize the workers as the backbone of the nation. These workers are also relatives and constituents of the lawmakers and ministers present.

He emphasized the urgent need for a wage structure that enables Nigerian workers to meet the escalating cost of living without undue hardship.

Meanwhile, TUC’s leader, Festus Osifo, pointed out the exacerbating economic difficulties faced by Nigerians, particularly over the past year, which have complicated the process of negotiating fair remuneration for workers.

In a crucial meeting held in Abuja, leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) convened with top government officials and the leadership of the National Assembly in a last-ditch effort to forestall the indefinite nationwide strike slated to commence on Monday, June 3.

This intervention by the National Assembly seeks to bridge the impasse between labour unions and the federal government over the contentious issues of a new national minimum wage and the recent increase in electricity tariffs.

The President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, underscored the essence of the meeting, stating, “We are not fighting for a starvation wage but a living wage.”

Ajaero highlighted that the government must recognize the workers as the backbone of the nation. These workers are also relatives and constituents of the lawmakers and ministers present.

He emphasized the urgent need for a wage structure that enables Nigerian workers to meet the escalating cost of living without undue hardship.

Meanwhile, TUC’s leader, Festus Osifo, pointed out the exacerbating economic difficulties faced by Nigerians, particularly over the past year, which have complicated the process of negotiating fair remuneration for workers.

Osifo noted that the dire economic conditions demand immediate and thoughtful responses to prevent further deterioration of workers’ welfare.

The meeting, initiated by the National Assembly, aimed at bringing both sides to a consensus to avoid the impending strike which could cripple economic activities across the nation.

A host of government offices, buildings, and institutions risk being thrown into darkness if they fail to settle their electricity bills before the deadline issued by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

According to the AEDC, the affected buildings are owing huge electricity debts which have accumulated over time.

Power House building, located in the Maitama District of Abuja, which houses the office of the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, is part of the building listed in a notice of disconnection issued by the AEDC.

More than 20 other government institutions risk disconnection, according to the ultimatum issued by the distribution company in a statement addressed to its customers on Friday, 31st May.

The acting Managing Director of AEDC, Victor Ojelabi, in a statement, said the deadline for all outstanding payments is Monday, June 3, 2024.

Below is the full list of customers owing AEDC as released by the Disco:

1. Nigeria Army
2. Nigeria Airforce
3. Defence Headquarters (HQ)
4. Federal Capital Development Authority
5. Kogi state government
6. Niger state government
7. Nigeria Police Force HQ
8. Nigerian Army Barracks
9. Federal Ministry of Industry
10. Nigeria Police Force HQ
11. Nigerian Army Barracks
12. Power House
13. Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) House 1
14. Head of Service
15. Ministry of Education
16. Ministry of Women Affairs
17. Ministry of Industry
18. Ministry of Trade
19. Ministry of Interior
20. Ministry of Water Resources
21. National Stadium
22. Goodluck Jonathan Athletics Hall
23. Ministry of Finance
24. Ministry of education
25. Ministry of Trade
26. National Planning Commission (budget)
27. Ministry of Works
28. Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Abuja.

The former governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal has urged President Bola Tinubu to desist from disassociating himself from the tenure of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
Tambuwal insisted that Tinubu must stop his ministers and aides from castigating Buhari’s administration.

The former governor stated this during the stakeholders meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Sokoto State on Sunday.

He argued that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has no plans to secure the country and are more interested in grabbing power.

He said, “The same Tinubu government that has failed to secure Nigerians, and bring development is now lamenting and disassociating themselves from Buhari’s administrative failure.

“There’s no reason for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow his aides or ministers to be castigating and attacking past APC government under Muhammadu Buhari which he has tremendously benefitted from as a member of APC.

“President Tinubu should face the governing of Nigeria with serious minded attention and not allow certain myopic tendencies in his government to destroy his good plan on securing of our nation and bringing cohesion and development to our country if at all he is ready.”

Speaking further, Tambuwal advised PDP supporters in the state not to be discouraged about the happening in the country, instead to unite and ensure political understanding amongst themselves.

“Nobody can change our country like determination and commitment to good cause as we are all known for, our party supporters should be united in bringing such to the party progress

“You have been in the vanguard of change and political unity, this will be your guiding principles of peace and political unity with discipline and respect to everybody in the party” he added.

In compliance with an earlier directive of an indefinite nationwide strike by organised Labour, the aviation unions have directed members to withdraw services across airports in Nigeria.

THE WHISTLER had earlier reported that NLC and its counterpart, the Trade Union Congress (TUC), declared an indefinite nationwide strike starting Monday, June 3, 2024.

The unions confirmed the strike in a joint statement signed by the General Secretaries National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) Ocheme Aba; Air Transport Services Senior Staff Aassociation of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) Frances Akinjole; Secretary General Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) Olayinka Abioye and General Secretary the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAPE) Olayinka Abioye.

The statement reads, “In compliance with the directive from our labour leaders, Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria-we hereby inform the general public, aviation service providers, airline operators, aviation businesses and all aviation workers nationwide that starting from 0000hrs of June 3, 2024, all services at all Nigerian airports shall be fully withdrawn till further notice.

“Being not oblivious of the fact that many international flights to Nigeria are already airborne, the strike action will commence at international terminals on 4th of June, 2024.

“All aviation workers should recognize the seriousness of this struggle and comply unfailingly. All Branch officers of our unions shall ensure full compliance at all airports.”

Some Nigerian women have narrated the huge economic challenges confronting them in sustaining homes.

The women expressed their views in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday.

A Mother of four, Mrs Abiola Dipeolu, said that presently, the family spent a lot of money to keep the home going.

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Dipeolu said that when she newly got married, she usually saved some money from the monthly allowance she received from her husband.

She said that the reverse was the case now, saying that what she received as feeding allowance hardly sustained the family for two weeks.

“I have to wake up as early as 4.00 a.m. to begin the hustle for the day and close by 6.00 p.m.

“Marriage is boring and uninteresting because the time for husband and wife to be together has been put into hustling” she said.

A Mother of three, Mrs Ronke Adu, said that she could not remember the last time she got financial support from her husband.

Adu said that the financial responsibilities had been shared and each of them took up his or her responsibilities.

She said that the present economic challenges had rendered some husbands mere figure heads in spite of the energy they put up on daily basis to make ends meet.

She noted that she had to do menial jobs like sweeping of compounds, cooking soup for the elderly and home cleaning on daily basis to make ends meet.

Expressing her views, a Mother of two, Mrs Busayo Adamolekun, said that she was a fashion designer by profession but when the reality dawned on her, she dropped her working tools and ventured into food selling.

Adamolekun said that food was one of the businesses now thriving.

She said her husband had to join the food business and closed his business centre because he no longer received patronage.

She said that some women took up the main financial expenses at homes, while their husbands only rendered support.

A Civil Servant and a Mother of three, Mrs China Okeke, said that it was a pity that the economy turned this way.

Okeke suggested that managing the home financially needed prudence.

“As a civil servant, I had to obtain loans to keep the home going,’’ she said.

She explained that the take-home pay was not enough.

A Grandmother and Pastor, Mrs Adefunke Clement, said that many women came to the church for financial help.

Clement said that there was no day a woman would not come to the church soliciting for meal.

She said that before now, the church used to have philanthropists who donated voluntarily, saying that now the church authorities had to announce before getting few donations.

“Women are going through a lot to put food on the table.

“Some go into four or five menial works on daily basis to keep the home going,’’ she said.

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has said that military coups cannot take place without the assistance of politicians and civilians.

Abdulsalami stated this in an interview with Sun Newspaper on Sunday. He noted that it is the political field that allows any military man to take over power.

In his words: “You see, whatever happens, it must be the political field that allows any military man to take over. When you are in government and there is no equity and justice, certainly this brings problem.

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“You have a political party and even in the political party one belongs to, there is no democracy. So, certainly, you will expect some quivers, some quarrels to come out and if they are not handled amicably, certainly, this will result to military takeover.

“Remember there is no military man that takes over without the connivance and assistance of politicians and civilians”.

The Kogi State Government has announced the rescue of the remaining eight kidnapped students of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara (CUSTECH) Bringing the numbers of rescued students to 30.

Recall 32 students were abducted inside the school premises early last month while preparing for the commencement of their exams. Four of the abducted students were first rescued, followed by another 16, and two students who escaped on his own, before the latest 8 that were rescued.

Two of the abducted students were however killed last week by the abductors following the state government decision not to pay ransom for the victims, but rather embarked on ‘kinetic and non kinetic” onslaught against the kidnappers.

This latest development was revealed on Sunday in a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo.

“The Kogi State Government has announced the rescue of the remaining eight kidnapped students of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara.

“The Governor has directed full support towards the recovery of the students and their parents, while modalities are being put in place to make Kogi safer for all.

“The Government of Kogi State expresses profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for directing the mobilization of resources to ensure the rescue of the kidnapped students.

“We also thank the National Security Adviser immensely for his commitment to the release of the students and the general security of the State.

“The Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Naval Staff, the Chief of Air Staff, the Director General of DSS, the Inspector General of Police and all the officers and men of the Armed Forces that put in their best as well as the Pilots, did a wonderful job to support us in reuniting the kidnapped students with their families.

“The Kogi State Command of all the security agencies, Police, DSS, NSCDC and our local hunters are also highly appreciated for their efforts towards this feat.

“Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo also expresses immense gratitude to his Kwara State counterpart, Governor AbdulRahmam AbdulRazak for his personal commitment, cooperation and support towards the success of the operation that led to the rescue of the remaining kidnapped students.

“The Kwara State Governor showed the reason he is effectively leading the Nigerian Governors Forum. His actions have also reinforced the Kogi/Kwara cooperation and unity of purpose.

“Now that the remaining students have been rescued, our administration will continue the drive to recalibrate our security architecture and pay an uncompromising attention to the Safe School Initiative.

“As the State with the lowest out of school children in the North, we have put structures in place to keep our schools safe to ensure every child is not deprived of his or her right to education.

“Kogi has domesticated the Child Rights Act and we will defend the right of our children to quality education. In Kogi State, education is free up to the Secondary School level.

“We also pay the registration fees for our students to write all internal and external examinations with a budgetary allocation that is way above the UNESCO benchmark for education. We do all of these to educate our children and make them responsible contributors to the economy of Nigeria.

“We urge our citizens to always volunteer intelligence to security agencies to enable them to prevent crime. This is safer, cheaper and better for us all.

“All of us must come together to defeat banditry, kidnapping and any form of criminality in our society.”

It appears taking a girl on date without any string attached has gone with the wind. At least, this is the view of a depression and mental health coach, Evelyn Motiga aka Evesoal, who slammed young Nigerian girls for making all sorts of demands before going on a date with a guy.

In a video posted on her page, she said it now causes a guy an arm and a leg just to take a girl out on a date as he would have to be responsible for almost everything the girl wears to honour the date.

She noted that the situation has driven some guys to depression and mental health issues.

“What’s wrong with our Nigerian girls these days? Why are you putting our men under pressure? Why are you making dating as if it is a transaction. This morning, I saw somebody on Facebook saying if a man wants to take her out on a date he must buy her clothes and he must pay her first.

Hey, are these girls aware that there are young men in Nigeria that are very hard working and putting them under pressure for me is not the way to go,” she says in the video.

She counsels that the act would not add any value to them but rather belittle them.

“You are bringing down your value. As if that is not enough, you are stressing our men. These men are going through a lot of mental issues and depression because they feel they are not good enough. Stop this nonsense,” she said.