National
‘Tuesday Deadline Stands’—Labour May Resume Strike Tuesday,Rejects ₦62,000, ₦100,000
The Organised Labour says it will not accept any ₦62,000 or ₦100,000 “starvation wage” as the minimum wage for Nigerian workers.
Labour insisted on ₦250,000, its latest demand at the last meeting of the Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage on Friday, as the living wage for an average Nigerian worker.
“Our position is very clear,” said Chris Onyeka, an Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief show on Monday.
He insisted that labour won’t accept the latest government’s offer of ₦62,000 and the ₦100,000 proposal by some individuals and economists.
Onyeka said, “We have never considered accepting ₦62,000 or any other wage that we know is below what we know is able to take Nigerian workers home. We will not negotiate a starvation wage.
“We have never contemplated ₦100,000 let alone of ₦62,000. We are still at ₦250,000, that is where we are, and that is what we considered enough concession to the government and the other social partners in this particular situation.
“We are not just driven by frivolities but the realities of the market place; realities of things we buy every day: bag of rice, yam, garri, and all of that.”
Onyeka said the one-week grace period given to the Federal Government last Tuesday, June 4, 2024, would expire by the midnight of Tuesday, June 11, 2024.
He said should the Federal Government and National Assembly fail to act on the demands of workers by tomorrow (Tuesday), the organs of the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) would meet to decide on the resumption of the nationwide industrial action relaxed last week.
The NLC Official said, “The Federal Government and the National Assembly have the call now. It is not our call. Our demand is there for them (the government) to look at and send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly, and for the National Assembly to look at what we have demanded, the various fact of the law, and then come up with a National Minimum Act that meets our demands.
“If that does not meet our demand, we have given the Federal Government a one-week notice to look at the issues and that one week expires tomorrow (Tuesday). If after tomorrow, we have not seen any tangible response from the government, the organs of the Organised Labour will meet to decide on what next.”
When asked what the decision of Labour would be should the government insists on ₦62,000, he said, “It was clear what we said. We said we are relaxing a nationwide indefinite strike. It’s like putting a pause on it. So, if you put a pause on something and that organs that govern us as trade unions decide that we should remove that pause, it means that we go back to what was in existence before.”
Protracted Deadlock
After weeks of failed talks on a new minimum wage for workers in the country, Labour declared an indefinite industrial action on Monday, June 3, 2024. Businesses were paralysed as labour shut down airports, hospitals, national grid, banks, National Assembly and state assemblies’ complexes.
The labour unions said the current minimum wage of ₦30,000 can no longer cater to the wellbeing of an average Nigerian worker, saying government should offer workers something economically realistic in tandem with current inflationary pressures, attendant effects of the twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of the forex windows of the current administration.
The labour unions also lamented that not all governors are paying the current wage award which expired in April 2024, five years after the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari. The Act should be reviewed every five years to meet up with contemporary economic demands of workers.
In January 2024, President Bola Tinubu inaugurated a tripartite committee to negotiate a new minimum wage for the country.
At the start of negotiations, Labour presented ₦615,000 as the new minimum wage but saw reasons to drop their demand to ₦497,000, and then to ₦494,000.
Also, in the beginning, the government and the Organised Private Sector proposed ₦48,000, ₦54,000, ₦57,000, and later ₦60,000, all four offers were rejected by Labour, prompting the strike.
In the heat of the impasse and the attendant consequences of the strike last Monday, June 3, 2024, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, said the President was committed to a wage above ₦60,000, and that the government side of the tripartite committee would meet with labour for one week to agree on a wage.
Persuaded, labour “relaxed” its industrial action on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, some 24 hours after the strike. Both TUC and NLC leadership subsequently resumed talks with the representatives of the Federal Government, states, Organised Private Sector.
The President also directed Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, to present a template for a new minimum wage. Before the directive, the minister described as “unaffordable, the demands of labour. Also, the 36 state governors said labour’s demands was not sustainable.
However, on Friday, June 7, 2024, the two sides (labour and the government) failed to reach an agreement. While labour dropped again its demand from ₦494,000 to ₦250,000, the government added ₦2,000 to its initial ₦60,000 and offered workers ₦62,000.
Both sides submitted their reports to the President who is expected to make a decision and send an executive bill to the National Assembly to pass a new minimum wage bill to be signed into law by the President.
The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the death of retired Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, David Shikfu Parradang, and announced that they are searching for a woman who left his hotel room the day prior to his death.
Reports initially suggested that Parradang had been kidnapped and subsequently murdered in the Area 1 district of Abuja. However, police later clarified that he had checked into a hotel and received a visitor, who departed shortly before he was found lifeless.
Police spokesperson for the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, stated, “On 3rd March 2025, at approximately 12:00 PM, Mr. Parradang arrived at Joy House Hotel, located at Area 3 Junction, driving a black Mercedes Benz. He checked into the hotel, paying a fee of N22,000 for a one-night stay. Shortly after, he instructed the hotel room attendant to escort a female guest to his room. This lady left the hotel premises at around 04:00 PM on the same day.”
The police further reported, “Mr. Parradang did not exit his room after the woman departed. At approximately 04:00 AM on 4th March 2025, a friend, who is a military officer, became concerned for his wellbeing and traced him to the hotel. Upon arrival, the hotel receptionist and the officer proceeded to his room, where Mr. Parradang was found deceased, seated in a chair.”
“The Durumi Police Station was notified, and officers promptly arrived at the scene to secure the area, take photographs, and collect all relevant evidence to preserve the integrity of the crime scene. The body has been transferred to the National Hospital for necessary procedures, and hotel staff are currently cooperating with police investigations.” The police further stated that efforts are underway to apprehend the woman involved.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has interrogated former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, in connection with an alleged N700 billion fraud.
Reports indicate that his questioning followed a petition alleging his involvement in money laundering, fund diversion, and corruption.
Emmanuel’s detention occurred after he complied with the EFCC’s invitation to address allegations put forth by an anti-corruption organisation.
Investigations have revealed alarming findings, including the withdrawal of N31 billion in cash from a single account titled “Office of the Governor,” with further cash withdrawals taking place progressively from 2019 to 2023.
These transactions have raised serious concerns regarding the potential misappropriation of state funds.
The EFCC’s ongoing investigation aims to uncover the full extent of the alleged fraudulent activities and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
… Insists he was duly elected in Abuja
… We now have someone we can turn to – Bishop Naga
The Executive members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja have declared that Rev John Joseph Hayab Is their authentic leader.
The Northern CAN expressed their confidence in the newly elected Chairman, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, saying that they now have someone they can turn to as a leader.
During a press conference held in Maiduguri on Tuesday, the General Secretary of the association and Chairman of the North-East CAN, Bishop Mohammed Naga, announced that the election, which took place on 25th February 2025 in Abuja, was conducted in a peaceful and transparent manner, leading to the appointment of Rev. Hayab and other Executive Committee members.
Bishop Naga, who is also the General Overseer of the Biblical Christian Church (BCC), encouraged Christian faithful, particularly those from the Northern region, to continue praying for peace, unity, and progress in an area beset by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other criminal activities.
He further urged all Christians to offer their prayers and support to the Muslim community during the Holy Month of Ramadan, in accordance with the teachings of the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, who was the pioneer Patron of CAN in Northern Nigeria.
Bishop Naga stated, “I wish to emphasise our support for our substantive Chairman, Rev. Joseph Hayab. He was duly elected alongside other executive members, and all churches and Christian leaders in Northern Nigeria remain loyal to him.”
He continued, “Any group that believes it should hold power indefinitely is mistaken. The stakeholders from Northern Nigeria, including the former General Secretary of national CAN and representatives from various states, honour the legitimacy of this election. We are committed to our loyalty.”
Naga added, “I want to assure both our local and international communities, particularly those in Northern Nigeria, that we have a leader to whom we can turn for guidance on Christian matters. We are advocates for peace, and we acknowledge the historical context of Northern Nigeria. CAN itself was founded here, inspired by our esteemed leader, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto, the first patron of CAN. This underscores our unity as brothers and sisters, committed to peaceful coexistence.”
He concluded, “We call upon all Nigerians to embrace one another, particularly our Muslim brothers and sisters who are observing the fast, to pray for peace in Nigeria and for the progress of our beloved country, especially in the North.”