The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised concerns after soldiers surrounded the venue of its critical meeting with the federal government, aimed at negotiating a new minimum wage.
The meeting, which was set to occur at the premises of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has been thrown into uncertainty due to the unexpected military presence. The NLC’s official page on X posted, “Soldiers are presently surrounding the venue of the meeting between Labour and Government at the premises of the SGF.”
The NLC issued a stern warning against any attempts to intimidate, provoke, or blackmail its leaders during the negotiation. They stated, “Any attempt to intimidate, provoke or blackmail our leaders at the negotiation table will be resisted, and strike action would further be prolonged.”
For months, the NLC has been in negotiations with the government, advocating for a new minimum wage of N615,500 for Nigerian workers. The government’s counteroffer has been significantly lower at N60,000. The deadlock in these negotiations has already led to a nationwide strike, severely disrupting economic activities across the country.
The presence of soldiers at the negotiation venue has escalated tensions and sparked fears of a potential crackdown on labour leaders.
Despite this, the NLC has urged its affiliates to remain calm yet vigilant, reaffirming its commitment to resisting any form of intimidation.