Labour leaders have arrived at the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for a closed-door meeting with government representatives, this is according a highly placed source.

“We are also meeting with the government representative in the SGF office today. Already seated awaiting the government representative,” the source added.

The names of the government representatives who bid to attend to the labour leaders are unknown at report time.

It was earlier reported that some unions have shut their workplaces to comply with the directive of the two labour unions to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.

On Friday, organised labour announced that they will be commencing a nationwide indefinite strike due to the refusal of the Federal Government to increase the proposed minimum wage from N60,000.

According to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, the strike will begin at midnight on Sunday, June 2, 2024.

In a joint statement delivered by Ajaero and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Festus Osifo, they expressed their serious concerns and disappointment over the Federal Government’s failure to finalise and pass a new National Minimum Wage Act into law.

Recall that both unions had given an ultimatum of May 31, 2024, for negotiations on the new minimum wage.

However, talks between organised labour and the Federal Government broke down on Tuesday after both parties presented their offers.

The government increased its initial offer of N57,000 by adding N3,000 to make it N60,000.

This proposal was rejected by labour during the meeting.

During negotiations at this meeting, labour also lowered their demand from last week’s proposal of N497,000 by removing N3,00 which reduced their new proposal to N494,000.

More to come…

The Federal Government, through the National Salaries Wages and Income Commission, has extended an invitation to the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress in a bid to stop ongoing strike by organized labour.

However, it is not certain if the Labour leaders will attend the meeting.

It was earlier reported that some unions have shut their workplaces to comply with the directive of the two labour unions to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.

On Friday, organised labour announced that they will be commencing a nationwide indefinite strike due to the refusal of the Federal Government to increase the proposed minimum wage from N60,000.

According to the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, the strike will begin at midnight on Sunday, June 2, 2024.

In a joint statement delivered by Ajaero and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Festus Osifo, they expressed their serious concerns and disappointment over the Federal Government’s failure to finalise and pass a new National Minimum Wage Act into law.

They also demanded that the government reverse the increase in electricity tariff to N65/kWh.

Recall that both unions had given an ultimatum of May 31, 2024, for negotiations on the new minimum wage.

However, talks between organised labour and the Federal Government broke down on Tuesday after both parties presented their offers.

The government increased its initial offer of N57,000 by adding N3,000 to make it N60,000.

This proposal was rejected by labour during the meeting.

During negotiations at this meeting, labour also lowered their demand from last week’s proposal of N497,000 by removing N3,00 which reduced their new proposal to N494,000.

The Labour Party (LP) says that organised labor’s proposed N494,000 minimum wage is “unrealistic.”

Citing inflation and the current state of the economy, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have suggested N615,500 and N494,000 as the new national minimum wage, respectively.

Labour began an indefinite strike on Monday because the federal government is refusing to budge on its demand.

Speaking with NAN on Monday, Obiora Ifoh, LP spokesperson, asked the NLC to suspend the strike and resume talks with the federal government.

Obiora said the industrial action will worsen the economic hardship in the country.

“Our immediate reaction is that the organised labour should not throw Nigerians into more hardship,” he said.

“Nigerians are already grappling with a lot of challenges and we do not need to exacerbate the situation.

“I think the demand for N494,000 minimum wage is unrealistic. It is really unrealistic.

“It is a figure that cannot be sustained because it will imply that Nigeria will take all that money it has to pay the civil servants.

“Negotiation should continue until they get something better.

“Asking Nigerian workers to stay at home will affect everything, including the cost of living and Nigerians cannot afford that now. Negotiation is not a one-off thing.

“If the federal government is not willing to go above N60,000 minimum wage, I think that the organised labour should work with what is available while it continues to negotiate.

“We know this government has not gotten it right. It is still trying to test the waters.”