Nigeria: Workers Strike over Pay

By Eric Sande

ABUJA---The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have led the labour force in Nigeria in a strike, demanding a monthly minimum wage of US $120 down from the initial $346 minimum wage they asked from the Government. The strike comes in the wake of the rapidly increasing cost of living in Nigeria making the prices of commodities shoot abruptly in the country.

The last ten years has sailed with a current $50 national minimum wage. This indicator has left many  with no food to bring to the table hence increasing the crime rate and abject poverty.

The two unions met with President Goodluck Jonathan after he cut short his visit to Lagos State to avert the strike but the meeting failed to reach a compromise to stop the strike that began yesterday.

“If the states know they don't have money they should stop trying to behave alike.  Sometimes, a rich state will come to Abuja in a convoy of cars and the poor states will want to do the same and yet they come to tell us that there is no money. Anyway, by tomorrow (today) we shall know what to do,” the source said.

In a press release issued by Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, Mr Ima Niboro, said the President has assured of government's interest in its commitment towards achieving a realistic salary and wages for the Nigerian workers as evidenced in the salaries increases of Federal Government employees last month.

The president is said to lead a high powered government delegation to the emergency talks with representatives of Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, in Abuja today evening.

Inflation rates in the recent years have been occasioned by the raising food and transportation costs, say experts and despite an emergency meeting with President Jonathan, union authorities say they will strike if the wages are not raised.