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Labour Threatens Strike Over Delayed MOU With FG
Only a few of the 15 demands in the MoU have been put into effect by the government.
Abuja, Nigeria– The state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have voiced their dissatisfaction with the sluggish pace of implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that they previously signed with the Federal Government.
The organized labour unions have issued a stern warning, suggesting that if the agreement is not fully implemented before the looming October 30 deadline, they will have no choice but to proceed with a nationwide strike.
During a press conference held on Tuesday, October 24, the Head of Information and Public Affairs of the NLC, Mr. Benson Upah, was asked about the level of satisfaction regarding the MoU’s implementation.
“No, we are not. The government could do better and faster. We issued a statement a few days ago in which we expressed our displeasure with the Minister of Labour and Employment.”
On October 1, the national leadership of the NLC and TUC reached an agreement with the Federal Government to pay N35,000 to all federal workers starting from September, pending the signing of a new national minimum wage into law.
The resolution stated that the wage award would be granted to federal workers for six months, with encouragement for states to extend the same benefit to their workers.
It would be recalled that the unions threatened a nationwide strike on October 3, which was postponed under the condition that the wage award, cash transfer, and other resolutions should be implemented within 30 days from the signing of the MoU.
However, only a few of the 15 demands in the MoU have been put into effect by the government.
Union leaders have now expressed concern that if the federal and state governments do not implement the agreed-upon resolutions with organized labor by the October 30 deadline, they may be compelled to declare an industrial action.
