The Nigerian Labour Congress(NLC) on Wednesday insisted on going on strike after a tripartite meeting with the federal government ended in a deadlock.
The national leadership of Labour has instructed all workers to sit at home until further directives are given.
Labour had hoped that the meeting with the federal government would resolve the issue of increasing minimum wage but was disappointed when federal government only ‘assured’ that steps will be taken to act on their demands.
Many Nigerians have taken to social media to react to the situation. While some faulted the NLC for embarking on an action that will yield no good, others saw sense in the industrial action and urged government to act on Labour’s demand.
Here’s what they had to say
NLC is battling to squeeze a new minimum wage out of a government that pledged to give Nigeria a new minimum wage
Adams Oshiomhole, the leader of the ruling party, is a former NLC chairman but has never expressed his support for the new minimum wage
He don’t give a damn
— Nafiu T (@nafeezi) September 26, 2018
NLC Strike: Cost of living in Nigerian states are different, same with IGR. Negotiate with the Assembly to change the law enforcing all states to pay the same amount.
Compel the Assembly to reduce their package, through picketing, not strike that’d affect the common man.— Abiodun Afolabi (@afolabiodun) September 26, 2018
So the industrial action by NLC has commenced today. Teachers students, banks, workers etc have embarked on an indefinite strike to protest non increment of minimum wage but our selfish government is more concerned about #OsunRerun pic.twitter.com/g1QhCAKxpi
— Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) September 27, 2018
Former SGF, Babachir Lawal confessed that he earned #930million monthly under the same .@MBuhari government that has been foot dragging to pay the minimum wage of #56,000 demanded by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC)for the Nigerian workers.
Where is justice, equity & equality?
— The Great Sage (@myunicy) September 27, 2018
NLC want salary increment when even the small one, government is struggling to pay. I think it’ll make more sense if the strike is a protest against the states that are owing those poor workers, but no, we just like to do silly things in this country.
— Il Capitano (@famochi09) September 27, 2018
NLC should know that what well meaning Nigerians want is good policies that will stop inflation and add value to naira not wage increase, what if salaries are increased today and tomorrow price of bread becomes 5k a loaf
— Hamma (@HAHayatu) September 27, 2018
NLC should know that what well meaning Nigerians want is good policies that will stop inflation and add value to naira not wage increase, what if salaries are increased today and tomorrow price of bread becomes 5k a loaf
— Hamma (@HAHayatu) September 27, 2018
It feels good to be home today as a result of NLC strike over minimum wage. Government should do the needful.
What stops Nigerian government from increasing minimum wage by 50000 naira? #OsunReRun #OsunDecides2018 @Gidi_Traffic— Chidi Peter. O. (@IdentikalTwins) September 27, 2018
1. The #NLC never fights for anything other than higher pay. Ask them, how productive are most workers? ‘No go area’. Even the current structure, most states cannot pay, and recurrent expenditure keeps rising.#nlcstrike
— Stephen K. Oyedemi (@SKOyedemi) September 26, 2018
The NLC strike action is dead on arrival.
When Nigerians needed them to strike on fuel hike, they turned the other way. @DrJoeAbah— integrity (@twitmexy) September 27, 2018