Minimum Wage : FG Reacts To NLC, TUC’s Planned Strike

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11 months ago

June 1, 2024

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Minimum Wage : FG Reacts To NLC, TUC’s Planned Strike—-The President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government has appealed to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to reconsider their decision to commence an indefinite strike on Monday, June 3, 2024.

The planned strike is in response to the government’s refusal to increase the proposed minimum wage from N60,000.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed, emphasized the importance of prioritizing the interests of the general public in an interview with PUNCH.

He described the NLC and TUC as essential partners in the nation’s development and cautioned that industrial action is not the solution to the ongoing wage negotiations.

This plea followed the labour unions’ declaration of a nationwide strike, aimed at compelling the government to finalize a new minimum wage law and reverse the recent electricity tariff hike to N65/kWh.

NLC President Joe Ajaero, reading a joint statement with TUC leader Festus Osifo, expressed deep disappointment over the government’s failure to pass the new National Minimum Wage Act and address the electricity tariff issue.

Ajaero criticized the government’s absence at a recent negotiation meeting, indicating a lack of commitment to resolving the wage dispute. He pointed out that despite the unions’ ultimatum issued during the last May Day celebration, there has been no meaningful progress from the government.

The labour unions had also demanded the reversal of the electricity tariff increase from N225/kWh to N65/kWh and the end of the consumer band categorization. A nationwide protest on May 13, 2024, highlighted the unions’ demands, but the government’s response has been inadequate, according to Ajaero.

In light of the government’s inaction, the NLC and TUC have issued a notice of an indefinite nationwide strike, beginning June 3, 2024. The unions are urging all affiliates, civil society organizations, and the general public to support the strike to ensure fair wages and living conditions for Nigerian workers.

The recent breakdown in wage negotiations marks the latest setback in a series of failed talks. Despite the government’s offer to raise the minimum wage to N60,000, labor unions dismissed the proposal, having initially lowered their demand to N494,000 from N497,000.

The wage committee, inaugurated by Vice President Kashim Shettima in January 2024, was tasked with recommending a new national minimum wage.

However, the ultimatum set by the labour unions expired without a resolution, prompting the planned industrial action.

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Bugaje Accuse APC of Using Money, EFCC Threats To Weaken PDP Through Defections

Published

1 day ago

April 25, 2025

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Bugaje Accuse APC of Using Money, EFCC Threats To Weaken PDP Through Defections—-Former member of the House of Representatives and ex-presidential adviser Dr. Usman Bugaje has accused Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), of systematically using money to induce defections from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speaking in an interview with Arise News, Bugaje claimed that the APC has been aggressively targeting opposition figures, leveraging both financial incentives and potential legal threats.

His words: “Well, for what I know—and I don’t claim to know everything—the APC is basically using money to buy off PDP.

“Some say it’s a carrot and stick approach. The money is the carrot. What’s the stick? Possibly the EFCC. They might do these kinds of things. This has been the practice since the time of President Obasanjo.”

Bugaje argued that the root cause of the ongoing wave of defections is money, warning that such practices pose a grave threat to Nigeria’s democratic system.

He said: “For me, this is a very serious issue. This should be the center of our political discourse. As long as money remains the determining factor, then that’s the end of democracy and the end of politics.”

His comments come in the wake of a major political shake-up in Delta State, where Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who was also the PDP’s 2023 vice-presidential candidate, defected to the APC. They were joined by members of the National Assembly, State Assembly, and several local government chairmen.

Bugaje stated that he is skeptical about the PDP’s ability to function as an effective opposition.

“There has not been real opposition since the moment Nyesom Wike did what he did,” Bugaje said.

“The PDP missed its chance to be a viable opposition party. Just look at their conduct on major national issues—from emergency rule debates to budget discussions. They failed to act like an opposition,” he added.

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Atiku is the Messiah Nigeria needs, says Former Lagos PDP Chairman Aeroland

Published

1 day ago

April 25, 2025

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Atiku is the Messiah Nigeria needs, says Former Lagos PDP Chairman Aeroland

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Segun Adewale, says former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is the Messiah Nigeria needs now and he can fix the economy.

Adewale, a former Lagos State Chairman of the party, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos that no one should write off Abubakar politically or tell him to leave the PDP.

Recalls that some critics of Abubakar’s presidential ambition, including former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George and former Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State had advised the former vice president not to run on the PDP platform in 2027.

While George on Wednesday told Abubakar to immediately resign from the PDP over an alleged anti-party activities, Fayose said he would work against his presidential ambition, if he decided to contest in 2027.

Speaking, Adewale popularly known as Aeroland, said that no one should play God over the ambition of the former vice president.

“He (Abubakar) has been tested and tried as part of the few politicians with contentment, and he has never given up.

“He has been in power, he understands Nigerian politics. He knows our challenges compared to other politicians that just want to grab power to get wealth.

“Atiku is one of the politicians that I know that is satisfied with whatever he has. Most others politicians, like his critics, are gluttons.

“It is unfortunate that the unrelenting opposition that Atiku has is still in the PDP, his party, not even outside PDP,” Adewale said.

According to him, it is sad that members of the PDP are still the one vehemently opposing Abubakar’s planned coalition to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for PDP, and return the party to power.

“Anyone within PDP saying Atiku should not contest in 2027 is working for the opposition and not for the party or the country.

“They are working for personal pocket, therefore, should not be listening to. We must discard their opinions.

“All dissenting voices in our party are working for their stomach, not for Nigeria,” Adewale said.

He maintained that none of the opposition party could defeat the ruling party single-handedly, not even Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party.

Calling for a rejig in Nigeria’s electoral system to deepen democracy, Adewale claimed that he had been allegedly robbed of electoral victory severally in Lagos State owing to a flawed system.

“It is not about how smart we are, but about the system. It is not about how popular you are, it is about the system. We must join hands to correct this before 2027 polls.

According to him, Nigerians are tired of poor governance, calling for a change and breath of fresh air.

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