Akpabio, Abbas in last-minute talks with labour after FG declared proposed labour’s strike ‘premature and illegal’; aviation workers join strike, maritime workers too on Monday

The leadership of the National Assembly, on Sunday evening, arrived at a meeting with the leadership of the Organised Labour in Abuja as part of last-minute efforts to persuade aggrieved workers to shelve their planned industrial action for a new minimum wage.

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero and his Trade Union Congress (TUC) counterpart, Festus Osifo are at the meeting with Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas in Abuja.

The National Assembly said the meeting was to “avert the impending industrial action” to commence on Monday, June 3, 2024, “which would have severe repercussions on the populace and economy”.

The decision of the Organised Labour followed the deadlock between the Federal Government and the unions over a new national minimum wage and reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs.

The Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Labour, Employment and Productivity respectively, Diket Plang, and Adegboyega Adefarati, are also at the meeting.

Earlier, the Minister of Justice and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, has faulted the action of organised labour for calling for industrial action on the ground that the minimum wage negotiations with stakeholders had not reached a conclusive end.

The AGF’s remarks come in reaction to the announcement by the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Friday, May 31, 2024, declaring an indefinite nationwide strike action from Monday.

However, Fagbemi in a letter dated June 1 addressed to the leadership of the TUC and NLC, described the unions’ declaration as “premature, ineffectual, and illegal.”

He emphasised the importance of factoring in the interests and capacities of employers, including those in the private sector, in setting a minimum wage that benefits the working population.

Fagbemi referenced Sections 41(1) and 42(1) of the Trade Disputes Act 2004 (as amended), which mandate both NLC and TUC to issue mandatory strike notices of at least 15 days, concluding that failure of the labour unions to comply with these provisions renders their strike action illegitimate.

He argued that the labour unions had not initiated trade disputes with their employers or issued strike notices as required by law.

“I wish to further draw your attention to the fact that the conditions outlined by our national legislation for exercising the right to strike are in tandem with the International Labour Organization principles concerning the right to strike.

“It is the position of the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association that the obligation to give prior notice, obligation to have recourse to conciliation, mediation and (voluntary) arbitration procedures in industrial disputes, etc are prior prerequisites for declaring a strike,” he said.

Meanwhile, there may be flight delays and cancellations on Monday as aviation workers said they will on Monday June 3rd, join the indefinite strike action declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over the Federal Government’s refusal to raise the proposed minimum wage from N60,000.

In a letter by Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals, (ANAP) signed by Abudul Rasaq Saidu, secretary general of the association, he stated that they are aware of the complaints and hardship being faced by all working class people “but in spite of the masses outcry the federal government did not reason to do the needful to pay acceptable wages.”

Saidu further stated that “the non-challant attitude of the national assembly on the face-off between the organised labour and the federal government is ridiculous and very unacceptable.

The letter stated that “in light of the aforementioned, all ANAP members and indeed all aviation workers are here by directed to stay away from work at midnight of Sunday, 2nd June 2024 as directed by both the NLC and TUC till further notice.”Minimum wage

Similarly, the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) said it will on Monday June 3rd, join the indefinite strike action declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) over the Federal Government’s refusal to raise the proposed minimum wage from N60,000.

The above action will result to shutting down the nation’s seaports as workers closed shop.

Kennedy Ikemefuna, spokesman of MWUN, said in a statement on Saturday that the indefinite nationwide strike exercise will affect port operations.

“… the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria has directed its members in all ports nationwide, jetties, terminals, oil and gas platforms to ensure total compliance to the strike exercise as directed by the NLC and TUC,” Ikemefuna said.

Joe Ajaero, president of the NLC, had earlier said that the indefinite strike would begin by midnight on Monday.

Ajaero alongside his TUC counterpart, Festus Osifo, expressed what he described as “grave concern and disappointment” over the Federal Government’s failure to conclude and pass into law a new National Minimum Wage Act, and reverse the hike in electricity tariff to N65/kWh.

Ajaero said that the Friday meeting between the government and Labour further demonstrated the lack of seriousness and apparent contempt with which the Nigerian state held the demands of Nigerian workers and people.

“No Governor was present and Ministers were absent, except the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, who doubles as a conciliator. There was none present on the side of the government with appropriate authority to commit them to any outcome. In essence, the government abandoned the meeting.

“We consider this disdainful and it shows a lack of commitment to a successful National Minimum Wage negotiation exercise,” he said.

Ajaero further said that during the last May Day celebration, the unions issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the conclusion of the minimum wage negotiation exercise by the end of the month.

“However, there has been no significant progress or commitment from the government towards meeting this demand.

“We also demanded a reversal of the last hike in electricity tariff from N225/kWh back to N65/kWh, and stoppage of the apartheid categorisation of consumers into bands.

“We carried out a nationwide one-day protest on May 13, 2024, giving the government until the last day of this month to take action; but the government has not entirely shown any positive response, despite the national outrage at the insensitive hike.

“Nigerian workers, who are the backbone of our nation’s economy, deserve fair and decent wages that reflect the current economic realities,” Ajaero said.

The labour unions cited the Federal Government’s refusal to increase its proposed ₦60,000 as the new national minimum wage as the reason for the action.

Idris Mohammed, minister of Information and National Orientation, said while describing the NLC and TUC as partners in Project Nigeria, that industrial action was not the solution to the ongoing negotiation for a new minimum wage for workers.