Workers in Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria, have joined their counterparts across the country in the nationwide indefinite strike by organised Labour.
The State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Professor Oguguo Egwu and his Counterpart of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Chidi Igboji, disclosed this in Abakaliki, the state capital.
Profess Egwu recalled that on the 1st of May, 2024 during the Workers’ Day celebration, organised Labour declared the 31st of May as the deadline for the Nigeria Government to sign the new National minimum wage into law for effective implementation.
This was further reiterated at the emergency National Executive Council meetings of NLC and TUC held on 20th May, 2024 and a communique was issued in that regard.
He said following the expiration of the deadlines, the Nigeria Government failed to listen to the genuine demands of organised Labour which are;
- To sign and implement a new national minimum wage before the 31st May, 2024 deadline.
- To reverse the over 300% hike in the price of electricity for some citizens in the so-called Band “A” -a product of consumer apartheid within the same country.
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He added that, as a result of the above, organised Labour has been directed to embark on nationwide indefinite strike action with effect from 00:00hrs of the 3rd day of June, 2024 to press home these key demands that are designed to improve the quality of life of every worker and the everyday people of Nigeria.
The state chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Chidi Igboji, said workers are directed to remain in their homes and on no occasion shall any Comrade violate this directive of NLC and TUC because indeed, they must let the poor, the ordinary Nigerian worker breathe.
Comrade Igboji said it is not to discourage the Ebonyi State Government which has been fair to Ebonyi workers but to better the standard of living for the workers.
