During the May Day celebration in Abuja's Eagle Square, organized labor issued a stern warning to the Federal Government, setting a May 31 deadline to finalize minimum wage negotiations or face a possible nationwide strike.
President Bola Tinubu has expressed his government's intent to establish a new minimum and living wage aimed at improving worker welfare. Nonetheless, labor leaders, representing various unions, have voiced significant discontent with the current wage discussions, demanding a substantial increase to N615,000 and setting forth an 18-point agenda to the government. They emphasized their readiness to initiate a countrywide shutdown should their demands remain unmet by the end of May.
The demand list includes a call for transparent management in the energy sector, particularly addressing the ongoing crises in the power and oil sectors, which labor leaders describe as plagued by inefficiency and potential corruption. They strongly criticized the recent electricity tariff hikes and called for their immediate reversal, threatening further action if the government does not comply within a week.
Additionally, labor leaders expressed their deep concerns over the worsening state of national security, highlighting the alarming rate of violence and insecurity affecting citizens and workers across the country. They argued that without a fundamental overhaul of the security framework and genuine community involvement, the situation is likely to deteriorate further.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi, the Labour Party's presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, extended their greetings and solidarity to Nigerian workers, urging them to remain resilient against anti-democratic forces and economic hardships.
In his address, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu assured workers of imminent improvements in wages and working conditions, aligning his administration’s goals with the needs and security of Nigerian workers. He called for unity and cooperation to achieve national prosperity and stability.
As May Day celebrations concluded, the labor unions' message was clear: swift and substantial action is required from the government to meet their demands, with the hope that dialogue and negotiations will preempt the need for industrial action
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