The Organised Labour in Nigeria is set to embark on another nationwide strike on November 6, if the Federal Government fails to meet its demand on the new National Minimum Wage of N30,000 agreed upon.
President of Nigeria Labour Congress Mr Ayuba Wabba, made this known in a statement signed with its counterparts, President, Trade Union Congress Mr Bobbio Kaigama, and President, United Labour Congress Mr Joe Ajaero.
The Organised Labour and the Federal government have failed to arrive on an agreement concerning the new minimum wage despite several meetings held to deliberate on the issue.
However, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, says Nigerian workers should be clapping for the Buhari administration because it has done well for them.
Speaking in an interview with Channels TV, Ngige said the Buhari administration has been able to manage the welfare of workers in the country better than other administrations.
“Many people will not remember very quickly. In the military government, at a time, there was an embargo on employment; even embargo on promotions. When people go, the vacancies are there and the monies are returned to the coffers of the government.
We are not doing so and I thought Nigerian workers should be clapping for us for that. We are promoting them (workers) as we speak; we are replacing those who have left.
In fact, when people leave on high grades, we do what is called suppression and get more (people) on the lower grades.
The Presidency doesn’t want anybody to be laid off; this President.” he said
The Minister went on to say President Buhari is very concerned about the welfare of workers because he was part of them, as a soldier.
He said the Buhari administration has recruited 30,000 policemen and thousands of workers into various parastatals of the government.