The Federal Government has warned the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, to shelve their plan to commence a nationwide indefinite strike action from tomorrow (Monday).
FG, in a statement it issued through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, on Sunday, described the proposed industrial action as “premature, ineffectual and illegal.”
It stressed that the agitation for the increase of the minimum wage of workers in the country is currently being addressed, insisting that the labour unions failed to fulfil the condition precedents that would enable them to embark on a strike action.
The AGF, in a letter it addressed to the two labour unions, noted that FG and other stakeholders involved in the Tripartite Committee on deterinination of a new national minimum wage, had not declared an end to negotiation.
He argued that in view of the fact that FG and State governments are not the only employers to be bound by a new national minimum wage, it was therefore “vital to balance the interest and capacity of all employers of labour in the country (inclusive of Organized Private Sector) in order to determine a minimum wage for the generality of the working population.”
Besides, the AGF noted that an order of the National Industrial Court, NIC, which barred the two labour unions from embarking on any form of strike action, is still extant as it has not been set aside.
He, therefore, urged the unions to reconsider their proposed strike action and return to the negotiation table.
