• Accuses unions of playing politics, hurting citizens
• We won’t back down, Labour vows, warns TCN against attack on workers

The Federal Government has called on labour unions to continue negotiations regarding the new minimum wage.  This was just as the Presidency accused the unions of hurting the citizens and bearing grudges against the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.

 
But organised labour has vowed to neither back down nor give in to any blackmail, intimidation or harassment, as members yesterday paralysed economic activities across the country over differences in minimum wage and hike in electricity tariff. 
 
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, at a briefing, yesterday, in Abuja, emphasised the government’s commitment to a peaceful and mutually-beneficial outcome.  Idris highlighted recent efforts by the National Assembly and Presidency to engage Labour.
 
The minister reiterated the government’s openness to dialogue, stressing the importance of a collaborative approach. “We will continue to engage and make ourselves available in the context of these negotiations on behalf of the Nigerian people. We are not opponents on this negotiating table; we are united by the fact that we want the best for the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all 200 million citizens of the country,” Idris stated.
 
He underscored the need for a balanced and realistic resolution, noting the significant implication of Labour’s demand. Labour unions proposed a new minimum wage of N494,000 — a 1,547 per cent increase on the present wage.
 
According to Idris, this would result in a yearly wage bill of N9.5 trillion for the Federal Government alone, not accounting for additional costs to state governments and private sector employers.
 
Such an increase, Idris warned, could cripple the economy and lead to massive job losses.  The government has also pointed to other measures to alleviate economic pressure on Nigerians, such as the National Consumer Credit Scheme and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
 
Idris emphasised that relief for Nigerians should not only come through increased wages but also through efforts to reduce the cost of living and ensure more disposable income.
 
NLC, on Friday, declared a nationwide indefinite strike starting at midnight on Sunday, June 2, 2024, due to the Federal Government’s refusal to increase the proposed minimum wage above N60,000.

President of NLC, Joe Ajaero, announced the strike following failed negotiations between the government and organised labour.
SPECIAL Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, maintained that all the issues raised by organised labour could not be resolved by blackmail or sabotage. 
  
Taking to his verified X handle (formerly Twitter) to convey the Presidency’s position, Onanuga maintained that the Federal Government and Labour leaders must return to the negotiating table to resolve all the issues. 

 
He wrote, “It is saddening that Labour could go to this extreme. But it is not surprising to perceptive minds. Labour is harming the Nigerian people they claim to be fighting for. Today, many sick Nigerians cannot access medical care at government hospitals; not even those with critical medical conditions. It appears Labour is playing politics by other means.
 
“Many of the affiliates of the two central unions, NLC and TUC, are members and supporters of the Labour Party (LP). They logically bear grudges against the Tinubu administration.” 

FOLLOWING the shutdown of the national grid by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Ajaero, in response to a press statement by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), faulted the claims by TCN regarding the strike.  He noted that the TCN management deployed the military to intimidate and harass workers in its employ.  
 
According to Ajaero, TCN is not deeply worried about the plight of Nigerian workers, who suffer in penury due to their poor pay and thus decided not to take any positive action.  He warned that the management of TCN would be held liable for any injury inflicted on any worker by their resort to the use of the powers of the military. 

 
He called on all Nigerians to stand in solidarity with Labour as it demanded the implementation of policies that prioritise the people’s well-being, adding
“We will not back down and we will not give in to any blackmail, intimidation or harassment.” 
 
While visiting some areas in Lagos, yesterday, The Guardian observed that workers, who had resumed the day’s activities, were sent back home by monitoring teams and state council chairpersons of NLC and TUC, Agnes Sessi and Gbenga Ekundayo. 
 
At Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), led by Sessi, the workers were sent away while patients were left to their fate, except in emergency cases. 
 
Ekundayo said the union went around government establishments and was satisfied with the level of compliance and those who came were sent back home.  He said members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) could not comply fully and would be reported to the national body. 
 
Banks that were not unionised operated, while the unionised banks were forced to shut down operations.  Meanwhile, port operations in Lagos were not spared, as the respective unions, including the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) and the maritime branch of the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), complied with the directive.