The leadership of the Labour Party (LP) has taken a stand, urging both the Federal Government and Organised Labour to get back to the negotiation table for the sake of suffering Nigerians.
What They Are Saying
In a statement from the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, it was highlighted that just hours into the strike, Nigeria has been plunged into darkness, hospitals have shut down, and water pipes have run dry, adding yet another layer of hardship for the Nigerian people.
The Labour Party insists that both the government and the labour unions need to compromise and find common ground to ease the suffering that this industrial action has caused. “It is our opinion that the Federal Government should never have allowed the strike to begin in the first place. Is a new minimum wage necessary? Absolutely, because the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 is utterly inadequate,” Ifoh said.
The party is urging both sides to return to negotiations. “We especially appeal to the Federal Government to step up and act as the father figure, ensuring that Labour returns to the table for discussions to avert the ongoing suffering of the people,” the statement continued.
Why It Matters
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) launched a nationwide strike on Monday over the Federal Government’s failure to agree to a new minimum wage in light of the current economic realities. They argue that the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 is insufficient for the average Nigerian worker’s needs, and many governors are not even paying this outdated wage, which expired in April 2024. According to the Minimum Wage Act of 2019, signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari, the wage should be reviewed every five years to keep up with economic demands.
Bottom Line
The opposition party, while siding with the labour unions, emphasized that the government must demonstrate genuine concern and a willingness to compromise to earn the unions’ trust and bring them back to the negotiation table.
