FG Moves To Avert labour Strike Over The New 30,000 Minimum Wage, NLC Reacts

The Federal Government has commenced moves to prevent the proposed nationwide strike scheduled on January 9 by organized labour over the new minimum wage of N30,000.

In a statement signed by the Director of Press, Ministry of Information, Samuel Olowookere in Abuja, Wednesday, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige invited executives of the organized labour for a meeting on Friday at the Conference Hall of the ministry. The statement said:

“Towards nipping in the bud threat of national industrial action by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) over the transmission of the New National Minimum Wage to the National Assembly.

“The Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment Sen. Chris Ngige is scheduled to hold a meeting with the Executives of the Organised Labour Union…”

Reacting to the invitation, the General Secretary of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson said:

Yes, we received a letter from the Ministry of Labour inviting us to a meeting on Friday. Although for us, we don’t know what those meetings are for because what needs to be done now is not meetings.

“But in our tradition, (if) you invite us to a meeting, we will come to listen to you.

“But we have passed the stage of meetings upon meetings what needs to be done is for the bill to be sent to the National Assembly, but we will attend the meeting.”