The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared an indefinite strike starting Monday, June 3, 2024, over the federal government’s refusal to increase the proposed minimum wage above N60,000. The NLC is demanding a minimum wage of N494,000, which is a 6-digit offer. The government claims the demanded wage would destabilize the economy and lead to job losses.
The strike has received support from various unions, including PENGASSAN and NUPENG, which have directed their members to shut down operations in the oil sector. The strike may lead to food shortages and price increases, as some civil servants expressed concerns about stocking up on food due to the short notice and lack of funds.
Labour Unions are urging President Bola Tinubu to personally intervene in the ongoing negotiation to avert the strike, stating that the government’s offer of N60,000 is unreasonable considering the current rate of inflation. The government, however, warns that the demanded wage would destabilize the economy and lead to job losses.
The strike has sparked mixed reactions from civil servants, with some expressing support for the strike but concern about their ability to stock up on food due to the short notice and lack of funds. Others believe the strike will not have a significant impact on businesses.
Prices of tomatoes and pepper have soared in recent times, with a big basket of tomatoes ranging from N100,000 to N130,000 and a bag of pepper ranging from N80,000 to N90,000. This has been attributed to the scarcity of petroleum and the increase in prices over the past two months.