Paul Osuyi, Asaba
The organised Labour, in Delta State, on Tuesday, said there was no going back on the N30,000 minimum wage for workers across the country by the tripartite committee negotiating an acceptable wage.
In a sensitisation rally across major streets of Asaba, the organised labour comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and United Labour Congress (ULC), faulted the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, who claimed that state governments cannot pay the N30,000.
Chairman of NLC in the state, Jonathan Jemiriegbe while briefing Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in Government House, vowed that labour will shut down the nation’s economy on November 6 if the Federal Government reneges on the agreement by the tripartite committee.
Jemiriegbe advised Nigerians to stock their homes with food, noting that the November 6 strike will be total and indefinite, and insisted that negotiation has since ended with the tripartite committee which had representatives of Federal Government, organised labour and the private sector.
“We are not happy with the way and manner the Federal Government representative is going about saying that there is no agreement. The tripartite committee agreed on N30,000, and there is no going back on that.
READ ALSO: Over 5,000 Kwankwaso supporters realign with APC in Kebbi
“We are prepared for the strike, not only strike, we will shut down this country. The airport and even NEPA will be shut from November 6. There is no more negotiation which has ended with the tripartite committee,” Jemiriegbe said.
Also speaking, the vice president of ULC, Kelly Ogboloi informed that the rally was taking place simultaneously across all states of the federation to intimate the government and the populace that workers have asked for N30,000 as minimum wage.
Ogboloi berated the Minister of Labour, Mr. Ngige for claiming that there was no agreement, adding that all requirements were exhausted before the N30,000 was agreed upon.
“Therefore, we are not going back on that. If peradventure, they take labour for granted, the country will be totally shut down by November 6, and labour should not be held responsible if anything happens,” he said.
Responding, Governor Okowa who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Mr. Tam Brisibe commended the organisers for the peaceful rally, assuring that Delta State Government is ready to pay any amount agreed upon as minimum wage.