Labour Suspends Strike, Tripartite Panel Submits Report To Buhari Today

The Organized Labour Unions finally suspends its nationwide strike scheduled to commence on Tuesday. The labour unions called the strike in a bid to strong-arm the government to increase the minimum wage from N18, 000.

Mr. Ayuba Wabba, The National Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, announced the brief suspension at the end of the tripartite committee set up to come up with a new minimum wage that will satisfy all concerned parties. Mr. Wabba said they arrived at the decision to suspend the strike after agreements were reached and series of documents were signed by all concerned parties.

“Having reached this position and agreements signed , the proposed strike action is hereby suspended ,” the labour leader said. The leader of the labour union, however, refused to disclose the exact amount arrived at by the committee.

He said the new minimum wage would be made public after the committee’s eeport has been submitted to President Muhammed Buhari. He also assured the general public that only one figure would be presented to the President. On this note, the Chairman of the committee, Amma Pepple expressed delight that their mission is successful.

“I am happy to report to you that we have concluded our assignment and we will submit our report to the President by 4.15 pm on Tuesday. “We will reveal the figure at the presentation ,” she said.

The Federal government had set up the tripartite committee to come up with a new national minimum wage. The committee chaired by a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation , Amma Pepple, had recommended two figures, N 24 ,000 and N30 ,000, for minimum wage . Pepple revealed this to journalists at the end of the committee’s long meeting held to tackle the indefinite strike action declared by the labour union.

During negotiations, the Federal Government proposed N24, 000 as the minimum wage and State governors said they could only pay N22, 500. However the labour unions and the organized private sector stuck to N30,000. Both players – the Federal government and labour u unions refused to acquiesce to the other’s demand.

 

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