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The federal government should avert the looming strike by Nigerian workers. If the strike is allowed to hold, the economy might collapse. Despite the 21-day ultimatum issued to government by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to address the demands of Nigerian workers, the issues are yet to be resolved.
The next line of action by labour will be determined by the outcome of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for tomorrow. The NLC had earlier embarked on a warning strike.
Therefore, the federal government should dialogue with labour and resolve the matter amicably. What labour is asking from the government is realistic. We believe that the government has enough resources to address them.
The NLC is asking for palliatives and improved welfare for Nigerian workers. Specifically, labour is asking for wage increase, tax exemptions and allowances for public sector workers, and a review of the minimum wage to reflect economic realities.
The federal government has promised to restructure the framework for engagement with organised labour by setting up a Presidential Steering Committee and sub-committees. It also instituted a timeframe for the conclusion of the matter. However, the outstanding matters could not be resolved due to certain reasons.
President Bola Tinubu had on May 29 hastily announced the removal of fuel subsidy without having in place palliative measures to cushion the effects of the new policy. Following the announcement, the pump price of petrol rose from N210 to N510 per litre.
It has also led to an increase in the prices of commodities and cost of transportation. Inflation also rose to 22.79 per cent. As Nigerians tried to adjust to the situation, the price of fuel further rose to N617 per litre. There are fears that the pump price of petrol may go higher as it is now determined by market forces.
Unfortunately, the meetings held so far between government and labour to resolve outstanding issues did not succeed. The reported attempt to balkanize labour is apparently not working. Despite government’s release of N500 billion for palliatives, the economic hardship is worsening.
The government’s plan to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty is not working. Instead, millions of Nigerians are daily being pushed into poverty.
We urge the government to address the six demands of labour over welfare and other issues. Government can do so with the trillions of naira already saved from the removal of fuel subsidy. Nigerians should also be made to benefit from the rising price of crude oil in the international market.
The government should stop dilly-dallying on the matter and do the needful. Its apparent grandstanding cannot help in resolving the issues. We say this because any strike now will worsen the hardship of Nigerians and strangulate the economy. Government should handle the labour matter with all seriousness. Shutting down the economy for a day or more may instigate unrest.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, should meet with labour and avert the looming strike. Let the government show seriousness by addressing some of the demands of labour. It is unthinkable that a new regime would gamble with the looming industrial unrest barely four months after inauguration.
Ideally, what it needs at this stage is industrial peace and harmony to execute its programmes. There can be no meaningful development and progress in an atmosphere of tension and acrimony. The looming strike is undesirable and should be avoided. That is why government should dialogue with labour to stave off any industrial action.
The minimum wage of N30,000 is no longer tenable. It is not in tune with economic realities. Even at that, many states have not implemented the meagre wage. Nigerian workers need a living wage. Paying them a living wage will not necessarily lead to strike.
Government should not wait until NLC strikes before improving the welfare of workers and millions of other Nigerians. The primary duty of government is the security and welfare of the people. Let government not abdicate this constitutional responsibility.
The government should let the poor breathe. They are currently suffocating. Let the federal government and labour use negotiation to resolve amicably all outstanding issues. The impending strike is avoidable.
