NLC declares nationwide strike over minimum wage, SJC, petrol hoarding

By Matthew Dike

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared a nationwide protest from March 10, 2021 over minimum wage, hoarding of petroleum product and a plan to establish a State Judiciary Councils (SJC.

In a meeting by the National Executive Council of NLC ,held at the Labour House  Auditorium , Abuja,  the congress also said that after the protest, there would be a nationwide strike if this its resolve is  not given due consideration.

The congress condemned in its entirety the idea of sponsoring a bill that would remove the Minimum Wage from the Exclusive Legislative list to Concurrent Legislative list, adding that the state governments have the right to have their own minimum wage so far the wages are not below the national minimum wage.

The bill sponsored by a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Garba Datti Mohammed, representing Sabon Gari Federal Constituency, Kaduna, marked HB 950, has passed its 1st and 2ND reading in February 2021. The NEC considered it as the “Hand of Esau and the Voice of Jacob.”

In the communiqué signed by the Acting Gneral Secretary, Comrade Ismail Bello, and Comrade Ayuba Wabba, dated March 2nd, 2021, the NEC warned that if the new minimum wage law is passed into law it would lead to the exclusion of the private sector.

It also said that the practice of politics into wage determination would have dire consequences as it occurred during the First Republic.

It also took a swipe at the political class for not showing concern about the plight of the suffering masses and also considered the bill sponsored by Abbas Tajudeen representing Federal Constituency, Zaria, in Kaduna State, and seeking to allow for a constitutional establishment of State Judiciary Councils which it believes would not augur well with most Nigerians.

The NEC also frowned at the incessant hoarding of fuel and creation of artificial scarcity.

After deliberation and consideration of the issues raised,”The NEC decided that there will be a national protest action commencing from the 10th of March 2021 in the Federal Capital Territory and especially to the National Assembly. The protest is to make a strong statement that Nigerian workers would not lie low and watch hard fought rights which are of global standards bastardized by opportunistic and narrow thinking politicians. The NEC resolved that the national protest action will be concurrently held in all the 36 states of the federationand to the different State Houses of Assembly across Nigeria;

The NEC  also decided that “should the need arise; it has empowered the National Administrative Council of the NLC to declare and enforce a national strike action especially if the legislators continue on the ruinous path of moving the National Minimum Wage from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List”

It condemned and rejected in its entirety “the ploy to decentralize Nigeria’s judiciary through the establishment of State Judicial Councils describing the move as unpatriotic, self-serving and an attempt to throw Nigeria into judicial and social chaos.”:

It said, “On the current hoarding of petrol and the attendant scarcity, the NEC called on relevant regulatory agencies of government to rise up to the protection of the interests of the majority of Nigerians from the exploitative hands of market forces who are bent on making maximal profits from the sufferings of fellow citizens,” warning “that should the current artificial scarcity persist that the various leadership structures of the NLC should picket petrol stations found to be inflicting pains on Nigerians; and that all the resolutions and decisions adopted at the emergency meeting should be pursued in collaboration with the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the overall interest of all Nigerian workers.”