Federal Government has been urged to accede to the demands of organised labour for the implementation of the N30,000 new national minimum wage, in the bid to avert another nationwide strike, slated for 8th January, 2019.
Leadership of the three labour centres namely: Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC); Trade Union Congress (TUC) and United Labour Congress (ULC) had threatened to commence mobilisation of workers for a nationwide strike on the 8th January 2019 if Federal Government fails to transmit the bill on the N30,000 new national minimum wage to the National Assembly.
But investigation conducted by BusinessDay as at Monday, 31st December, 2018 revealed that there was no Executive bill sent through the Senior Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate and House of Representatives).
Analysts observed that the industrial action if carried out may truncate ongoing preparation for the 2019 general elections which is expected to commence in February, 2019.
According to the time-table released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Presidential and National Assembly elections hold on Saturday, 16th February, 2019 across the country.
The Governorship, State Houses of Assembly and Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections hold on Saturday, 2nd March, 2019 respectively.
In line with the communiqué jointly issued by the three labour centres at a meeting held in Lagos state penultimate week, all the affiliate unions in not public and private sectors have affirmed readiness to commence mobilisation for the January 8, nationwide strike.
Fortune Obi, Public Relations Officer of Petroleum ad Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), an affiliate of TUC, affirmed readiness to join nationwide industrial action on the expiration of the deadline.
He however urged Federal Government to do the needful in order to avert another economic crisis as well as truncate the general elections.
On his part, Peter Ozo-Eson, NLC General Secretary noted that the position of the three labour centres remains sacrosanct.
