Ahead of Monday’s commencement of strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress over a new national minimum wage and reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs, the leadership of the Senate on Sunday entered into a discussion to avert the industrial action.
On Wednesday, 6th March 2024, the House passed a resolution that mandated the joint Committees on Finance, National Planning and Economic Development, and Labour, Employment and Productivity to work on a motion on the ‘Need to provide living wage for Workers in Nigeria’.
In the same vein, the House had on Thursday, 23rd May 2024 mandated the Body of Principal Officers in conjunction with the Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity to interface with organized Labour and report back within one week.
But in deviant to both resolutions, the House leadership and the joint Committees failed to carry out any legislative action on the resolutions despite series of disagreements and breakdown of negotiation between the employers comprising of the Federal Government and Organized Private Sector and the leadership of Organized Labour.
Announcing the National Assembly’s resolution, Senate Spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu and House Spokesman, Hon. Akin Rotimi in a statement made available to Parliamentary Correspondents, affirmed that the impeding industrial action would have severe repercussions on the populace and the economy.
The statement read: “The National Assembly acknowledges the announcement by Organised Labour, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), to commence an indefinite strike action from Monday, June 3, 2024, nationwide.
“The decision followed the deadlock between the Federal Government and the Labour Unions in agreeing on a new national minimum wage and reversal of the recent hike in electricity tariffs.
No going back on nationwide strike — Lagos NLC, TUC
“As a responsive parliament, the leadership of the National Assembly, comprising the President of the Senate, H.E. Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, is taking proactive steps to mediate and avert the impending industrial action, which would have severe repercussions on the populace and economy.
“The National Assembly notes that both parties have tenable reasons for their respective positions.
“In view of this, the National Assembly Leadership and the Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on Labour, Employment and Productivity respectively, Senator Diket Plang, and Rep. Adegboyega Adefarati, are looking to engage both parties in constructive dialogue and explore a variety of solutions in addressing the issues at hand.
“The 10th National Assembly is committed to ensuring that the interests of all parties are fairly represented.
“We further urge all stakeholders to remain patient and cooperative as we work diligently to find a mutually acceptable resolution in the best interest of the country.”
Recall that Hon. Kelechi Nwogu had on the 23rd May, 2024 in his lead debate on a motion of Personal Explanation “drew the attention of the House to the provision of Order Eighteen, Rule 11 (5) of the Standing Order of the House, relating to limitation as to the timeframe for submission of Reports.
He noted that 80 days after the House, on Wednesday, 6 March, 2024, passed a resolution on a motion titled ‘Need to provide living wage for Workers in Nigeria’, the joint Committees on Finance, National Planning and Economic Development, and Labour, Employment and Productivity, are yet to submit a report on the matter.
Hon Nwogo also noted that in view of the impending strike action by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), and the need for the House to be proactive in preventing the strike, the Committees be discharged of the mandate and the matter referred to an Ad-hoc Committee of the House.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE