The Labour Party (LP) in Nigeria has appealed to workers’ unions to re-engage with the government in negotiations over the new minimum wage instead of pursuing industrial action. This appeal comes in response to the nationwide strike declared by organized labour.
Mr. Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, made this plea during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos. He expressed concerns that a strike would only worsen the existing hardships faced by Nigerians.
“Our immediate reaction is that the organized labour should not throw Nigerians into more hardship. Nigerians are already grappling with a lot of challenges and we do not need to exacerbate the situation,” Ifoh stated.
He further argued that the demand for a N494,000 minimum wage is unrealistic and unsustainable, as it would require the government to allocate an impractical amount of resources to pay civil servants. Instead, Ifoh urged the unions to continue negotiating with the federal government to arrive at a mutually acceptable figure.
“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,” he said.
Ifoh suggested that while the federal government may currently be unwilling to offer more than a N60,000 minimum wage, the unions should work with what is available and persist in their negotiations.
“We know this government has not gotten it right. It is still trying to test the waters,” Ifoh noted, emphasizing the need for patience and continued dialogue.
The Labour Party reiterated its stance against any action that could further increase the suffering of Nigerians, urging both the unions and the government to seek a compromise that alleviates the current economic pressures.
