The Labour Party (LP) in Nigeria has urged workers’ unions to re-negotiate with the Federal government on new minimum wage rather than embarking on strike.
The comment by the LP comes after the nationwide strike declared by the organised labour over its demand for a new minimum wage.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Mr Obiora Ifoh, said that strike was not an option because it would cause more hardship and sufferings.
“Our immediate reaction is that the organised labour should not throw Nigerians into more hardship.” He told journalists.
“Nigerians are already grappling with a lot of challenges and we do not need to exacerbate the situation.
“I think the demand for N494,000 minimum wage is unrealistic. It is really unrealistic.
“It is a figure that cannot be sustained because it will imply that Nigeria will take all that money it has to pay the civil servants,” Ifoh said.
“Negotiation should continue until they get something better.
“Asking Nigerian workers to stay at home will affect everything, including the cost of living and Nigerians cannot afford that now.
“Negotiation is not a one-off thing.
“If the Federal Government is not willing to go above N60,000 minimum wage, I think that the Organised Labour should work with what is available while it continues to negotiate.
“We know this government has not gotten it right. It is still trying to test the waters,” the LP spokesman said.
As the Nationwide strike embarked upon by the Labour unions continue to gain momentum, the Federal government has called for a meeting of the tripartite committee on the new national minimum wage through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC).
The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 4. The previous meeting of the committee was abruptly stopped on May 31st when the organized Labour negotiation team left, as the government and organized private sector refused to increase their offer of N60,000.
It is unclear if the leaders of the Labour union will attend this meeting.
