Minimum Wage: Abia Workers Agree To Take Part In National Strike

The Nigeria Labour Congress branch in Abia State has committed to participate in the countrywide indefinite strike that is set to begin on Monday, June 3, 2024, in protest of the government’s unwillingness to raise the recommended minimum wage from N60,000.

THE MATRIX reported that Joe Ajaero, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Festus Osifo, the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), read from a jointly prepared speech. Ajaero expressed disappointment that the Federal Government had not concluded and passed into law a new National Minimum Wage Act, nor reversed the hike in electricity tariff to N65/kWh.

In an interview on Friday, the Abia NLC chairman, Ogbonnaya Okoro, disclosed that workers in the state will join the strike and others will be mobilised during the weekend to join.

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He said, “We will join the strike. By this weekend, we will start mobilisation and join others. The order is just coming this night and we will communicate them on Monday. It will begin on Monday and will not stop on Monday.

“The offices are not open on weekends and we will not go beyond the law. The arrangement came suddenly. We will follow the due process and serve them. We will call for state emergency meeting on Monday. We will do the necessary things so that we will not be faulted.

“The order came late and you don’t serve notices on Saturday, so we will do that on Monday.”