Labour leaders have arrived at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for a closed-door meeting with government representatives, a highly placed source informed our correspondent on Monday.
“We are also meeting with the government representative in the SGF office today. Already seated awaiting the government representative,” the source said.
The source has yet to mention the names of the government representatives who bid to attend to the labour leaders at the time of filing this report.
The PUNCH reports that some unions have shut their workplaces to comply with the directive of the two labour unions to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.
On Friday, organised labour announced that they will be commencing a nationwide indefinite strike due to the refusal of the Federal Government to increase the proposed minimum wage from N60,000.
According to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, the strike will begin at midnight on Sunday, June 2, 2024.
In a joint statement delivered by Ajaero and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Festus Osifo, they expressed their serious concerns and disappointment over the Federal Government’s failure to finalise and pass a new National Minimum Wage Act into law.
Recall that both unions had given an ultimatum of May 31, 2024, for negotiations on the new minimum wage.
However, talks between organised labour and the Federal Government broke down on Tuesday after both parties presented their offers.
The government increased its initial offer of N57,000 by adding N3,000 to make it N60,000. ,
This proposal was rejected by labour during the meeting.
During negotiations at this meeting, labour also lowered their demand from last week’s proposal of N497,000 by removing N3,00 which reduced their new proposal to N494,000.
Details later…
(PUNCH)