The Abia State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has vowed to join the indefinite nationwide strike scheduled to begin on Monday. The strike was declared by the NLC and Trade Union Congress (TUC) due to the Federal Government’s failure to finalize and pass a new National Minimum Wage Act and reverse the increase in electricity tariff to N65/kWh. The Abia NLC chairman, Ogbonnaya Okoro, confirmed that they would comply with the directive and start mobilization over the weekend to ensure participation in the strike starting on Monday. Despite the short notice, they plan to follow due process by serving notices to the state government before commencing the strike action.
The strike action is a response to the government’s lack of commitment towards meeting workers’ demands for an increased minimum wage and a reversal of the electricity tariff hike. The NLC and TUC expressed disappointment at the government’s attitude during negotiations and issued a notice for an indefinite nationwide strike starting on June 3rd, 2024. They emphasized that Nigerian workers deserve fair wages that reflect economic realities and criticized the government for neglecting its responsibility towards workers’ welfare.
Despite the impending strike, examinations conducted by bodies like West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) will continue as scheduled. The Branch Controller in Ekiti State assured that the ongoing WASSCE SC 2024 examinations will not be disrupted by the strike, emphasizing that students should not be disadvantaged by missing exams due to industrial actions.
In summary, Abia State workers under the NLC are set to participate in the nationwide strike beginning on Monday, joining other states in demanding a new National Minimum Wage Act and a reversal of electricity tariff hikes.
