As part of its efforts to halt the ongoing nationwide strike by organised labour, the Federal Government, on Monday, invited the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress for an emergency meeting scheduled for Tuesday morning.
The FG is convening the meeting with the Labour leaders through the National Salaries Wages and Income Commission.
But Labour leaders have yet to indicate interest in honouring FG’s invitation as of the time of filing in this story.
On Monday, several unions shut their workplaces in compliance with the directive of the two labour unions to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.
Last Friday, organised labour announced that they will be commencing a nationwide indefinite strike following the refusal of the Federal Government to increase the proposed minimum wage from N60,000.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, had said that the strike would begin at midnight on Sunday, June 2, 2024.
Ajaero in a joint statement with his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Festus Osifo, the Labour leaders expressed serious concerns and disappointment over the Federal Government’s failure to finalise and pass a new National Minimum Wage Act into law.
The Labour leaders also demanded a reversal of the increase in electricity tariff to N65/kWh.
Recall that both unions had given an ultimatum of May 31, 2024, for negotiations on the new minimum wage.
But on Tuesday, talks between organised labour and the Federal Government broke down after both parties presented their offers.
The government increased its initial offer of N57,000 by adding N3,000 to make it N60,000. ,
This proposal was rejected by labour during the meeting.
During negotiations at this meeting, labour also lowered their demand from last week’s proposal of N497,000 by removing N3,00 which reduced their new proposal to N494,000.
