By Milcah Tanimu
Organized labor in Nigeria has expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) it signed with the Federal Government, which was intended to avert a nationwide strike. Representatives from state chapters of the Nigeria Labor Congress and the Trade Union Congress have stated that if the agreement is not implemented by the October 30 deadline, they might be forced to initiate a strike. They have already begun mobilizing their members across the country.
The Head of Information and Public Affairs of the NLC, Benson Upah, expressed the labor’s discontent, saying, “No, we are not satisfied. The government could do better and faster. We issued a statement a few days ago in which we expressed our displeasure with the Minister of Labor and Employment.”
The national leadership of NLC and TUC had reached an agreement with the Federal Government on October 1, which included a provision to pay a minimum wage of N35,000 to all federal workers beginning from September. This wage award was to be paid for six months, with states encouraged to extend the same benefit to their workers. The unions threatened to declare a nationwide strike on October 3 but suspended it on the condition that the wage award, cash transfer, and other resolutions must be implemented within 30 days from the signing of the MOU.
Out of the 15 demands outlined in the MOU, only a few have been implemented by the government. The implementation of the N35,000 wage award has started, and provisions for 55,000 Compressed Natural Gas conversion kits are being made for the autogas conversion program. However, the government’s progress on these issues falls short of labor’s expectations.
In response, various state labor chapters have voiced their concerns and stated their readiness to comply with any directives from their national unions. If the government fails to fulfill the agreement, it could lead to industrial action in various states across the country. The final decision on whether to go on strike will depend on consultation meetings and a review of the government’s efforts to meet the labor’s demands.
