The Nigeria Police Force has advised the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress to comply with legal procedures and halt their planned nationwide strike to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
The police emphasized that the strike, set to push for a new national minimum wage for workers, could increase tension and lead to political instability. The Federal Government had earlier declared the planned strike illegal and premature.
In a statement on Monday, Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said: “The Nigeria Police Force, while acknowledging the recent announcement by organized labour regarding the intention to embark on a nationwide strike action and understanding the right of organized labour to engage in such actions to advocate for the interests of all workers, wishes to emphasize the importance of adherence to the existing laws governing such activities; and calls for caution to prevent a breakdown of law and order within the country.”
Despite the federal government’s pleas for consideration, organized labour has begun the nationwide strike today.
The strike follows a series of failed negotiations between the NLC, TUC, and federal government representatives.
These negotiations, part of the tripartite committee meetings on the new minimum wage, broke down last Friday.
The government had offered a marginal increase of N3,000, bringing the minimum wage to N60,000, which labour representatives found unsatisfactory.
Labour leaders are demanding a minimum wage of N494,000, citing the rising cost of living. In a statement, they emphasized the need for a wage that reflects current economic realities.
Various labour unions have mobilized their members to join the strike, including the National Union of Electricity Employees, National Union of Banks Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees, and the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees.
The federal government has called the strike “premature, ineffectual, and illegal.” Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, said, “The agitation for an increase in the minimum wage is being addressed. The labour unions have not fulfilled the conditions necessary for a legal strike.”
Fagbemi emphasized that the Tripartite Committee has not concluded negotiations and mentioned an order from the National Industrial Court prohibiting the unions from striking.
Unions from various sectors, including banks, oil, insurance, aviation, and maritime, have announced their decision to join the strike.
Aviation unions have stated that they will shut down local airports starting at midnight today, with international airports joining tomorrow. The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria also plans to shut down seaports.
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics has directed its members to join the strike, which is expected to disrupt academic activities nationwide.
A legal expert, Mr. Chyma Anthony, warned that the strike could harm the Nigerian economy. He argued that a significant wage increase could lead to hyperinflation. “Organised labour should press the government to reduce energy prices and improve security instead of demanding a huge new minimum wage,” he said.
The presidency also cautioned that labour’s demand for a substantial minimum wage increase could have devastating economic consequences.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said, “Mandating a 20-fold increase could lead to massive job losses, business closures, and unsustainable price increases for goods and services.”
Ngelale urged labour to consider the practical implications, stating that such a demand could mean soaring prices for struggling Nigerians. He said, “President Bola Tinubu would love to have a minimum wage even north of N1 million per month for every Nigerian, but the economic realities do not support what the organized labour movement is advocating for.”
