The leadership of Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) on Monday declared its intention to join the indefinite strike declared by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and United Labour Congress (ULC) over the controversy trailing the proposed N30,000 new minimum wage.
Biobelomoye Josiah, MHWUN Presidsnt who disclosed this on Monday at a news conference in Abuja, explained that all its members have been directed to withdraw their services and consequently shutdown operations in their various places of work by midnight today in compliance with the directives issued to affiliate unions by the NLC.
Josiah also said the government should be held responsible for any hardships that may occur owing to their withdrawal of services in hospitals nationwide.
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He explained that the tripartite agreement which arrived at the N30,000.00 minimum wage increment has been jettisoned by the government, adding that the lacked the political will to review and implement the legitimate demands of the Nigerian workers.
“You may recall our national body, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the organised labour have called on all workers in Nigeria to gear up for an indefinite nationwide strike which will commence midnight today.
“This is as a result of the failure to implement the constitutional requirement of the upward review of the national minimum wage which is long over due.
“We call on our members to remain resolute and be committed to the effective and orderly implementation of the nationwide strike commencing Tuesday except the government has a change of heart before then.
“It’s very obvious that the N18,000.00 National Minimum wage is no longer feasible and it is a trivialisation of a living wage.
“The government should be held responsible for the hardship that might occur (in hospitals) during the strike which ab initio should have been avoided, if the right thing had been done.
“Therefore we call on the government to increase the minimum wage to N30,000 which is a compromise figure agreed by the government and labour,” Joshua added.
The negotiation between Federal and State Governments as well as Organised Labour and Organised Labour is ongoing as at the time of filing this report.
Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) who is expected to receive the report of the Tripartite Committee and transmit to Mr. President however left his office at 7:16pm.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
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